The Office for National Statistics have revealed that there were 350 excess winter deaths in 2019 and 2020 across Berkshire, excluding Covid-19.

The Excess Winter Mortality report calculates the difference between the number of deaths recorded in the cold months (December to March) compared with the average number of deaths in the warmer four-month periods before (August to November) and after (April to July).

The table of data shows that there were 40 excess deaths in Bracknell Forest, 100 in Reading, 80 in West Berkshire, 100 in Windsor and Maidenhead, and 30 in Wokingham.

According to recent data, there were 29,290 excess deaths between December 2019 and March 2020 in England and Wales, excluding coronavirus.

OFTEC, a leading trade association in the off-gas grid heating sector, has expressed concern that many of these preventable deaths could be caused by people living in cold homes.

Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC, said: “As we face another winter in the midst of a global pandemic, our attention is rightly placed on protecting as many people as possible from infection.

“We must not forget, however, that even without the impact of the coronavirus, thousands of people continue to die in avoidable circumstances because they live in a cold home.  

Living in cold temperatures can lead to high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, particularly putting the older demographic at risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Public Health England suggest that over one-fifth (22%) of excess deaths during winter are directly linked to cold homes.

Reading Chronicle:

Above: A graph showing the excess death by local authority 2009-2020 (data from https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/excesswintermortalityinenglandandwalesreferencetables)

 

According to OFTEC, those in rural areas see a disproportionate number of households living in fuel poverty.

In Berkshire, around 25700 households are classed as fuel poor, which means their disposable income after energy costs puts them below the poverty line and their home has an energy efficiency rating of band D or below.

Mr Farrow continued: “Unfortunately, we know that many of those in Berkshire who are least able to afford their heating costs live in some of the most poorly insulated properties, making them much harder to heat and keep warm.

“The government needs to take action and provide more support for fuel poor households to help tackle the excess winter death crisis we are facing.

“It is also crucial that, as the government looks to make changes to how we heat our homes to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change, that new green heating policies protect the vulnerable and are fair and affordable for all, regardless of where their home is or the type of property they live in.”

Official figures for last winter (2020/21) have yet to be released.