27/10/2005

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)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 January 2005
Foreign Office to issue death certificates for tsunami missing
The Foreign Office has confirmed that it will issue death certificates for British nationals missing, presumed dead, in the Boxing Day tsunami disaster.
07 July 2006
Poorest children have highest death from injury risk
Children from the poorest families in England and Wales face greater risks of dying from injury than children in all other social groups, a study has claimed. Ten years ago, the death rate from injury and poisoning for children in the lowest social class was five times greater than that for children in the highest social class.
25 April 2013
Hearing Underway To Decide Date And Venue Of New Hillsborough Inquest
A hearing is underway at the Family Division of the High Court in London to decide on the date and location of a fresh inquest into the deaths of the 96 Hillsborough victims. A new inquest was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original accidental death verdicts in December.
18 February 2005
Road users ignore winter weather warnings
Almost half of road users would make journeys in spite of severe weather warnings, according to Highway Agency research. The research also found that a fifth of those questioned do not check weather warnings before travelling on the roads, while one in ten people do not listen to the radio for warnings while driving.
12 September 2014
15-Year-Old Arrested After 60 Dogs Killed In Fire
At least 60 dogs have been killed in a fire at a dogs home in Manchester, which is believed to have been started deliberately. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire was started at Manchester Dogs' Home in Moss Brook Road, Harpurhey, on Thursday.