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27 January 2011

HYPOTHERMIA ON INCREASE AS FUEL BILLS RISE


RECORD numbers of Scots are being treated for hypothermia as the price of heating continues to rise.
Figures have revealed the number of people diagnosed has soared by 40 per cent over the past five years, while energy companies continue to increase their prices.245 Scots were treated for hypothermia last year, almost half aged 65 or over. Seventy died of the condition. It has caused concerns that vulnerable elderly people are being forced to choose “eating or heating”. The standard dual fuel bill for gas and electricity will rise from about £1,150 to £1,250 a year. Five of the “big six” power companies, E.On, British Gas, Scottish Power, Scottish & Southern Energy and npower, have announced a 9 per cent price rise for electricity and 3 per cent for gas as of next month.

Hypothermia, sparked when the body drops below the required temperature to function properly, affected 120 people aged over 65 during 2009/10, compared to 98 five years ago.The figures were uncovered as part of a Scottish Parliamentary question lodged by Lib Dem MSP Jim Tolson, who said: “The Coalition Government recently announced that £52million has been given to the most vulnerable in Scotland in cold weather payments. This is money well spent.“We need to reverse this shocking increase in hypothermia cases in Scotland by tackling the causes, like poor housing and neglect of older people.”

A spokesman for Age Scotland said: “The double whammy of VAT and fuel price rises is likely to make the eating or heating dilemma facing many older people in winter even more acute.”A spokesman for Energy UK, the umbrella group for suppliers, said last night that anyone struggling to pay bills should contact their suppliers to work out a payment plan.


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