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<p>The annual cost to the National Health Service in England of cold housing is reported
to be between £850 million<sup>1</sup> and £1.36 billion<sup>2</sup>.This does not
include additional spending by social services, or economic losses through absences
from work. Total costs to the NHS and the country are unknown<sup>3</sup>.</p><p>
</p><p><em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365756/CWP_2014.pdf"
target="_blank">The Cold Weather Plan for England</a> </em><sup>3 </sup>is a framework
intended to protect the population from harm to health from cold weather, including
vulnerable older people. It aims to prevent the major avoidable effects on health
during periods of cold weather in England by alerting people to the negative health
effects of cold weather, and enabling them to prepare and respond appropriately.</p><p>
</p><p>Help is available through Cold Weather Payments which provide more targeted
support for vulnerable low-income groups. The Government has permanently increased
Cold Weather Payments from £8.50 to £25 for the duration of this Parliament for each
qualifying period of cold weather.</p><p> </p><p>This winter over 2 million low income
households, including over 1.4 million poorer pensioners, will receive a discount
of £140 off their electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Winter
Fuel Payments also provide assurance to older people, who may suffer the worst impacts
of a progressive condition, so that they can keep warm during the winter months. In
addition, around 482,000 low income and vulnerable homes have received energy efficiency
measures under Energy Companies Obligation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department
of Energy and Climate Change have commissioned work that will allow them to model
the potential cost-savings to health and social care services from energy efficiency
measures and other interventions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Notes: </em></p><p>
</p><p>1. Department of Health (2010) ‘Winter kills’, in 2009 <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2009CMOReport"
target="_blank">Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>2. <a href="http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Campaigns/The_cost_of_cold_2012.pdf?dtrk=true"
target="_blank">The Cost of Cold: Why we need to protect the health of older people
in winter</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>3. Public Health England (2014) <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365269/CWP_Making_the_Case_2014_FINAL.pdf"
target="_blank">The Cold Weather Plan for England. Making the case: why long-term
strategic planning for cold weather is essential to health and wellbeing</a></p><p>
</p>
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