There were an estimated 31,100 excess winter deaths in 2012/13 in England and Wales compared with the previous winter, figures released by the Office for National Statistics today reveal. Age UK called the figures “shamefull” and “unnecessary”.
- See the ONS figures on winter deaths for 2012/13
- The majority of deaths occurred among those aged 75 and over
- There were 25,600 excess winter deaths in this age group in 2012/13 compared with 5,500 in people aged under 75
- The figures represent an increase of 29%, or nearly a third, compared with figures for the previous winter
- Read more analysis of the figures – map and longer-term trends
Responding to the figures, Age UK’s Charity Director, Caroline Abrahams, said: ‘It should be a cause of national shame that last year’s cold weather claimed so many lives unnecessarily.
“Excess winter deaths are preventable and today’s figures are a damning indictment of our failure to address the scandal of cold homes in this country.”
She continued: “Cold homes are caused by a number of factors including poor insulation and high energy costs, and are a major cause of excess winter deaths.
“In fact those living in the coldest homes are three times more likely to die a preventable death than those living in warmer ones.
“We strongly believe that the only sustainable solution is investment to increase the energy efficiency of our housing stock so cold homes become a thing of the past. The Chancellor must take urgent action on this in next week’s Autumn Statement,” she added.
Join Age UK’s ‘Spread The Warmth’ campaign
The charity is urging people to ‘Tell your MP we need warm homes’. Anyone who wants to add their voice to Age UK’s campaign can visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk or call 0800 028 5535 to order a postcard to send to their MP.