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Fears 'thousands of elderly may die' as temperatures plummet across Britain

Thousands of people could die as the big freeze keeps a tight grip on the UK, the Department of Health fears.

While the mercury continues to plummet every day, the Department has estimated that the excess death toll could be as many as 1,560 per week with the elderly – especially women and hospital patients – the most vulnerable in adverse weather conditions.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Department of Health’s chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser, said in a report: “Mortality rises by 19% in winter months in England, amounting to 27,000 excess deaths or 1,560 more people per week.”

Forecasters predict that by Friday the country will see temperatures as low as -10°C at night – with sub-zero temperatures lasting through February.

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Lows of -6.2°C have already been witnessed in Pershore, Worcestershire, with a Level 3 cold weather alert in force for England meaning a 100% probability of ‘severe’ cold weather.

Icy winds from Siberia are triggering the freezing conditions – which broke the recent spell of unseasonably mild conditions.

180 pensioners died every day as a result of cold conditions during the 2010-11 winter months in England and Wales, according to an ‘Excess winter mortality report’.

An estimated 21,800 people over the age of 65 died as a result of adverse conditions, in the four months from December 2010 to March 2011, the report found.


The shocking projection of cold weather-related deaths comes as the big freeze, which has been sweeping the continent, claimed the lives of more than 60 people in eastern Europe.

More than 600 in the region have been treated for frostbite and hypothermia.

Temperatures reached -16°C during the day and -26°C at night in some parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, the Ukraine and Romania.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General at Age UK said: “It may have been relatively mild so far this year but the winter can be a dangerous time for older people. Many people believe that the only risk of winter weather is getting a cold but the risk is much greater.

“Low temperatures raise blood pressure which puts people at a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes and well as increasing the likelihood and severity of flu and other respiratory problems.”

There are plans in force to help the ‘at risk’ stay warm and well – including shopping, path clearing and meal deliveries.