UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2016-17

[ALEO Admin]

NEA have published their 2016-17 UK Fuel Poverty Monitor report in response to the Government's annual fuel poverty statistics.

This year’s report has a special focus on the impact living in cold, damp conditions has on the most vulnerable members of our society.

The report's Executive Summary, states:
"Our evidence continues to show the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes via rising blood pressure for these households, as well as causing or worsening respiratory illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. There is also strong existing evidence that cold homes can worsen arthritic, rheumatic conditions or increase propensity to falls as well.

"Sadly these households are also most susceptible to premature death. Using the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s estimate that 30% of winter deaths are caused by cold housing, we estimate over 9,600 frail and vulnerable people across the UK are dying needlessly on average throughout the winter months due to cold homes; 80 people per day. This is not acceptable in the fifth largest economy in the world. Worry about high fuel bills and fuel debt also continues to significantly damage mental health, which is affecting an increasing number of households."

The report makes a number of recommendations, including the following:

"Local government and local health bodies must also be held to account for
delivering their existing responsibilities. For example, the Public Health England Quality Outcomes Framework indicators for tracking excess winter deaths, fuel poverty and coldrelated morbidity that have been developed in England should be available to each nation at a local government and constituency level and updated each year

"To improve targeting, tailor advice and establish effective referral routes the new
data-matching opportunities created by the Digital Economy Act must be fully utilised18. The new powers must allow local authorities, GP practices, Health and Well-being Boards (HWBs) and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) or their equivalents across the UK nations to directly access information about the support energy suppliers can provide to eligible households in their area or assist other national fuel poverty schemes."

To download the report, visit:
http://www.nea.org.uk/research/uk-fuel- ... r-2016-17/