Winter death toll rises

The number of winter deaths in England and Wales last year rose to the highest levels since 2000, the Office of National Statistics reported.

The ONS found that there were 31,600 more deaths in England and Wales between December 2004 and March 2005, than the rest of year.

The number is higher than the levels seen in the past four years, when there were less than 30,000 excess deaths each winter. However, the figures are lower than those in the winters of 1998/99 and 1999/00, when there were 46,840 and 48,440 more deaths respectively.

In 2003/04, there were 23,450 excess deaths.

Health Minister Lord Warner said that the causes of excess winter deaths were “very complex”, but cold weather and illnesses were both important factors. He urged over-65s to get their flu jabs, but stressed that the long-term trend in winter deaths showed a “steady decline”.

The announcement of the figures comes as the British Gas Help The Aged partnership launched a campaign to combat the problem of fuel poverty among older people.

The partnership also published analysis of the English House Conditions Survey by the Building Research Establishment, which suggested that older people live in some of the worst conditions in the UK.

According to the research, 1.5 million older households do not have proper heating or insulation.

Mervyn Kohler, Help the Aged Head of Public Affairs, said: “Scientific evidence shows that living in a cold house really does increase the risk of mortality in winter. It is a disgrace that so many of the oldest and most vulnerable are living in Dickensian housing conditions. The government must step up its effort.”

(KMcA/SP)