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Plumbers Urged To Help Combat Winter Deaths

Plumbers Urged To Help Combat Winter Deaths

Plumbers and insulation installers should be trained to raise the alarm if they think someone is at risk because their home is too cold, an NHS advisory body has said.

It is among a series of measures contained in new health guidance aimed at cutting the number of cold-related deaths each winter.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said acting on its recommendations would also help curb the number of people admitted to hospital because of a drop in temperature.

There are estimated to be around an extra 24,000 deaths each winter, and experts warn temperatures only have to fall below 6C (43F) for the number to increase.

In its guidance, NICE commends the training of "heating engineers, meter installers and those providing building insulation to help vulnerable people at home, and be able to spot if someone is at risk because of a cold home".

Health and social care workers should also be part of a "hidden army" of people expected to take action if they suspect someone is vulnerable.

NICE wants local health officials to ensure there is a single point of contact people can raise concerns with.

Dr David Sloan, who helped draw up the guidance, said: "Action on cold homes can prevent early deaths."

Neil Schofield, of the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council, said those working in the heating industry make eight million home visits a year, which represented a "massive opportunity to identify these vulnerable people and direct them to help".

A government spokeswoman said: "We're investing more than half a billion pounds to help people stay warm in their own homes through energy efficiency schemes.

"A further £2.15bn has been spent on Winter Fuel Payments to help vulnerable people pay their bills.

"Healthcare workers are uniquely placed to help spot people who may be vulnerable at home. That is why we recently announced £1m to scale up local 'warmth-on-prescription' projects to help health staff take action for patients whose health may be affected by a cold home."