|
HELP ON HAND
FOLLOWING WARM FRONT CLOSURE
WITH the government's Warm
Front grant now closed to new referrals, nPower Health Through
Warmth is reminding vulnerable people in Merseyside that help is
still on hand.
Referrals to the government's Warm Front scheme are no longer being
taken and funding for the grant will end in March.
In response, the nPower Health Through Warmth scheme, which offers help to install
heating and insulation, is encouraging vulnerable people who have
cold related illnesses to apply for possible assistance.
Elaine Midwinter, nPower Health Through Warmth manager, said:-
"With Warm Front coming to an end, help is still available with
heating and insulation from the Health Through Warmth scheme.
The
Scheme has been operating since 2000 and is here to help people with
illnesses made worse by living in a cold home by finding funding for
the installation or repair of broken heating systems for eligible
residents.
The scheme has helped more than 6,600 people in Merseyside.
We want
to reassure vulnerable people that support from the Health Through
Warmth scheme is still available to help improve their comfort and
wellbeing.
I'd encourage anyone who feels they may be eligible to
get in touch to make sure they don't miss out."
nPower Health Through Warmth is available to vulnerable homeowners
who have a long term, cold-related illness, a low income with little
or no savings and are unable to fully fund measures. You do not have
to be, or become, an nPower customer to benefit from the scheme.
For more information about nPower Health Through Warmth, or to find
out if you or someone you know could be eligible, please contact the
nPower Health Through Warmth team on:- 0151 639 4308 or email:-
healththroughwarmth@nPower.com.
|
 |
Healthier homes
are on prescription
A SCHEME in which doctors
ask for patients' housing conditions to be investigated is being
given more power. Up to now the Healthy Homes team; set up to
prevent ill health from poor housing conditions has operated a
limited GP referral system, funded through the government's "Warmer
Home's Healthy People's Fund."
Under this scheme GPs and other health professionals are prompted to
ask vulnerable patients, identified through record systems, about
their housing conditions. If any issues are identified and the
patient agrees, they are referred to the Healthy Homes team to
investigate.
Now, thanks to £75,000 funding provided by Scottish Power, and
facilitated by the National Health Housing and Fuel Poverty Forum,
the scheme can be extended to all 95 GP practices in the city,
helping health professionals meet the housing, fuel poverty and
energy efficiency needs of their patients.
The funding will mean a project manager can be appointed to manage
the system and raise awareness with GP practices and health workers
about the benefits to vulnerable householders it can bring.
Currently 55 practices, covering more than 28,000 patients, are
operating the scheme in full with an average of 25 patients,
vulnerable to sub standard housing conditions including fuel
poverty, being referred to the Healthy Homes team per month.
The team can provide help on such issues as insulation measures or
access to grants for heating.
"A lot of illness can be attributed to poor housing
conditions. It is estimated that in Liverpool
each year up to 500 deaths and around 5000 illnesses needing medical
attention can be attributed, at least in part, to poor housing, and
while progress has been made to improve the energy efficiency of
Liverpool homes, there are still 44,000 private households in fuel
poverty.
It makes eminent sense for there to be closer links between health
professionals and the Healthy Homes team to identify vulnerable
people whose housing may be contributing to their illness so that
action can be taken. This new funding allows us to extend the
scheme throughout the whole of the city and we are very grateful for
Scottish Power for providing it and becoming involved in this
project." said Councillor Ann O'Byrne, city council
cabinet member for housing. |
