The Cold Weather Plan for England was issued on 1st November 2011.
It is part of the wider suite of measures which the Department of Health and NHS are taking to protect individuals and communities from the effects of severe winter weather.
The Plan provides advice for individuals, communities and agencies on how to prepare for and respond to severe cold weather as part of wider winter planning and announces the ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund.
The past two winters have had significant periods of severe and sustained cold weather. This has highlighted again the need to have effective plans in place to mitigate the effects of cold weather on health.
Every year mortality rises by 19% in the winter months inEngland. This amounts to an average of 27,000 ‘excess’ winter deaths or about 1,560 more people per week dying between December and March compared with the rest of the year.
The majority of these deaths occur among older people, especially women, and those with underlying health problems; however, they are not people who would have died anyhow at that time. Most deaths are due to cardiac disease, strokes and respiratory problems, not hypothermia. It has been estimated that the annual cost to the NHS of treating winter-related disease due to cold private housing is over £850 million.
The purpose of this Cold Weather Plan is to reduce winter deaths by raising public awareness and triggering actions in the NHS, social care and other community organisations to support vulnerable people who have health, housing or economic circumstances that increase their risk. The plan is also intended to mobilise communities and civil society to help their neighbours, friends and relatives to protect against avoidable harm to health in winter.
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