Councils along with their directors of public health are urging
people to check on the most vulnerable as temperatures across the
country plummet.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils
in England and Wales, is warning that some of the most vulnerable
people in communities may be more at risk from the cold due to
the rising cost of energy, with people putting on their heating
less frequently than in previous years.
To protect those most at risk from soaring energy bills, councils
are also providing warm spaces in libraries, community halls and
various local venues, while also using them to offer services
that promote longer-term resilience such as advice on debt,
income and employment during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather
alert lasting until Friday 16 December, with temperatures
dropping enough to impact on people’s health.
Those who are most at risk from freezing temperatures are the
elderly, those with respiratory conditions, circulatory disease
and dementia. On average there are around 25,000 excess deaths
during the winter period, with 85 per cent of these being from
those aged 75 and over
The LGA is calling on the Government to ensure that data is
shared with councils and the NHS to help to identify those at the
greatest risk in local communities, particularly those not
currently known to statutory agencies.
Council teams are on standby to help with everything from
carrying out emergency household repairs like defrosting pipes
and fixing frozen boilers to delivering hot meals and portable
heaters, and will be checking in on elderly and vulnerable
residents to make sure they are ok.
However, they have also urged people to check on their neighbours
and anyone else they may know who may be particularly vulnerable
from the effects of the cold.
Councils are best placed to support those who need it the most in
their local communities and it is important that there is a
joined up approach between the Government, health agencies and
councils to deliver for the most vulnerable.
Data from the LGA’s Winter Resilience Survey has found that
councils have stockpiled over 1.4 million tonnes of salt and are
working around the clock to ensure roads and pavements are
treated and safe for people to use.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing
Board said:
“We all know that the significant drop in temperatures we are
currently experiencing could bring about health risks to those
who are most vulnerable in our communities.
“As the cost of living has increased, we are concerned there will
be more people this winter who may not be able to switch their
heating on, putting them at greater risk from illness relating to
the cold.
