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Fuel
poverty – is
your home warm enough?
A new
pilot scheme aimed at tackling ‘fuel poverty’ was
launched today by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern
Ireland (HPA), National Energy Action Northern Ireland
(NEA), the Department for Social Development, Investing
for Health
and the Health Action Zones.
In Northern Ireland 33% of households suffer from fuel poverty.
In other words, 203,000 households cannot afford to pay for
the warmth they need, and this can lead to cold weather related
illness and deaths.
Causes of fuel poverty include poorly insulated and draughty
homes, inadequate heating systems, lack of access to economic
fuel, low income, cold climate, special heating needs (longer
than normal heating periods) and the need for higher temperatures
(older people, babies, people with a disability).
Older people, children, people with a disability and those
with long-term medical conditions have increased vulnerability
to cold, and cold homes can lead to asthma, chronic bronchitis
or emphysema, coronary heart disease, stroke, falls and accidents
and slow recovery from illness.
The trial
scheme involves fuel poverty training for health professionals,
such as Health Visitors, District Nurses and
Occupational Therapists, in four areas – Keady, Magherafelt,
Strabane and North Belfast. The training gives health professionals
a better general understanding of fuel poverty and will enable
them to point clients in the direction of relevant assistance.
Help is available to households suffering from fuel poverty
from a range of organisations, including Citizens Advice
Bureaux, Energy Efficiency Advice Centres, Northern Ireland
Housing Executive, Age Concern, Help the Aged, NEA, General
Consumer Council and EAGA, who administer and deliver the
Warm Homes government initiative.
Depending
on the client’s individual circumstances,
assistance could be in the form of installation of draught
proofing, loft insulation, hot water cylinder jacket or
more effective heating controls and training on how best
to use them. General financial support is also available
to low-income households.
Aodhan
O’Donnell, Senior Manager for Public Health
at the HPA, said: “Fuel poverty is a very serious issue
here, although the term is not widely known or used. People
experiencing fuel poverty can suffer from many diseases and
conditions relating to cold homes costing the Northern Ireland
health service around £30 million each year.
“There
are also other associated effects and costs such as days
off
school and work, and impact on other health
areas such as nutrition, accidents and mental health.”
Majella
McCloskey from NEA added: “The health sector
is to be congratulated for playing this active role, supporting
vulnerable people to get assistance from the effects of fuel
poverty. Reaching out to the old and young who are sick or
disabled can only ensure better targeting of resources.”
The trial project will be evaluated by the HPA after six
months to discover if fuel poverty knowledge among health
professionals has increased and if clients have taken up
the advice given to alleviate fuel poverty.
End
Notes to editors
There will be a media facility at the HPA on 8 November at
11:00am–12:00noon when Aodhan O’ Donnell will
be available for interview.
Fuel poverty is a situation in which a home would have to
spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain an
acceptable level of temperature throughout the home (18-240C).
For more information
Contact Jenny Dougan on 028 9031 1611 or NEA on 90239909.
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