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Home insulation saves lives
12 January 1999
A new Bill giving health authorities a duty to help people keep warm and well in their homes will be introduced to Parliament tomorrow by Sir Robert Smith MP (Lib Dem, Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine).
The Bill is backed by nine organisations including Friends of the Earth [1]. It will enable GPs to prescribe insulation for patients at risk from hypothermia and health authorities to pay for building improvement schemes such as damp proofing in homes with children suffering from asthma.
Some health authorities already run similar schemes. Birmingham Health Authority ran a pilot scheme allowing GPs to “prescribe” energy efficiency improvements, and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA paid for home improvements to help children suffering from asthma.
Charles Secrett, Executive Director of FOE said:
“We are delighted that Sir Robert has taken up this Bill. Every year, we spend millions of pounds treating people who have fallen ill because no-one spent a few thousands to make sure their homes were kept warm. Improving the energy efficiency of homes saves lives, saves money, creates jobs and cuts pollution and carbon dioxide emissions too.”
Sir Robert Smith MP said:
“Prevention is better than cure. In the UK we don't do nearly enough to stop people getting ill. Treating cold weather related illnesses costs the NHS £1 billion every year. It helps create the recurring winter crisis in the Health Service. If Health Authorities and GPs could prescribe measures to promote energy efficiency and well-heated homes, then a great deal of illness, suffering and expense could be avoided.”
Notes to Editors
1. The groups backing Sir Robert Smith's Bill are the Association for the Conservation of Energy, the Child Poverty Action Group, Friends of the Earth, Help the Aged, National Housing Federation, National Right to Fuel Campaign, NEA and UNISON.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
