Winter Deaths and Affordable Warmth in Blackpool

Dr. Gabriel Agboado

Winter deaths

Mortality trend

2,2042,257

2,1672,106 2,088

2,1382,061

2,114

1,9591,998

1,9141,877

1,791

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f d

eath

s

Number of deaths and temperature

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Num

ber o

f Dea

ths

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Aver

age

mon

thly

min

tem

p (

o C)

Number of deaths Average monthly minimum temp Linear (Number of deaths)

Excess winter death trends

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Year

Exc

ess

win

ter

deat

hs in

dex

Blackpool 32.9% 13.4% 28.6% 21.4% 23.9% 25.9% 13.2% 7.4% 19.6% 0.5% 16.4% 21.1%

E & W 28% 13% 27% 29% 15% 16% 14% 14% 20% 16% 15% 16%

North West 26% 11% 31% 26% 16% 17% 13% 15% 20% 13% 15% 16%

1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

Excess winter deaths & Age

109

330

477

789

6.8%

21.5%

18.1%

31.2%

-

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Under 65 yrs 65 to 74 years 75 to 84 yrs 85+0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Excess deaths EWDI

Excess winter deaths & Wards

25.6%

22.2%

28.9%

18.5%16.7%

22.0%23.3%

24.7%

18.7%

21.5%

16.4%

34.7%

20.1%

13.3%

37.2%

11.5%

32.0%

16.2%

21.8%

25.3%

22.2%

Blackpool Average, (22.8%)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

EWD

I (%

)

Excess winter deaths & IMD

27

475 505

832

10.8%

25.1%

21.1%

23.5%

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Exce

ss w

inte

r dea

ths

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

EWDI

(%)

Excess deaths EWDI

Excess winter deaths & Health conditions

615 86 10 20 747 12 14 42 24

112

63%

12%

5%

20%

12%9%10%9%

19%17%

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Circul

atory

system

dxs

Digestiv

e syst

em dx

s

Genitou

rinary

system

dxs

Nervou

s syste

m dxs

Respi

ratory

syste

m dxs

Endocr

ine & meta

bolic

dxs

Injury &

poiso

ning

Mental d

isorde

rs

Neopla

sms

Unclass

ified c

onditions

Exce

ss w

inte

r dea

ths (

No)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Excess winter deaths (No) EWDI (%)

Counter Attack Service

What is it about?

• Project Counter Attack is a landmark project which aims to:– To reduce fuel poverty among Blackpool residents– Reduce the levels of cold-related illnesses, excess

winter deaths, and health care costs during the winter

– Identify barriers to accessing affordable warmth measures.

The Partnership

• The Scottish Power Energy People Trust (main funder - £95,000).

• NHS Blackpool (Additional funding - £45,000) • Blackpool Council (support/administrative

costs - £10,000)• Age Concern (staff)

Achievements

• 1,139 households visited out of which 844 received remedial interventions:

• £ 211,800 of thermal improvements to homes• £42,024 of emergency remedial action where heating

and hot water supply compromised• £ 1,450 of charitable funds obtained to defray

emergency heating energy costs• £ 1.1million of additional annual income achieved from

benefits and health related allowance applications made on behalf of project clients

Barriers • Lack of awareness of all or some

services/grants • Perceived Ineligibility• Dispute with landlord over repairs• Transience of tenancy (those intending to

move)• Property condition unsuitable• Negative Image of schemes

How did the clients How did the clients feel?feel?

The service in its current form • Raising general awareness

• Maintain and distribute fact sheet• Advertise measures

• Bid for continuance funding for Counter Attack Service

• Continue outreach service for vulnerable residents