Category Archives: fuel poverty
Does no one care asks disabled man left in the cold?
Disabled man left to freeze
Chris Eaborn, keeping warm next to an old gas fire, lent to him by a neighbour
A DISABLED man trapped in his freezing Wigan home has made a public cry for help after having his power cut off for more than three days.
Chris Eaborn was so desperate for help after his electricity was cut off that he put notices in his window crying “HELP! We have had no electricity or heating for 72 hours. Does anyone care at all?”
Another reads: “We cannot cook any food, we cannot shower, basic human rights denied,”
The 56-year-old had been hoping for a quick fix after cable fault hit his home in Woodhouse Lane, Beech Hill, last Saturday night.
With no phoneline, he was forced to seek the help of a neighbour, whose power had also been shut off, to call Electricity North West.
But due to high volumes of calls following the bad weather, Mr Eaborn was unable to get through until Monday morning,
So he put up an SOS message in his window, hoping someone would take pity and help him and the two other houses in the row of terraced homes affected.
The resident, who has an ulcerated leg, said; “I have no power, no heat and I am freezing – there is no damp proofing and I have had two freezing nights.
“I can’t even boil a kettle, have a shower, or cook hot food – I can’t do anything because everything is powered by electricity. I need the heat because of my leg.
Cold snap poses ‘significant health risks’ to elderly
Cold snap poses ‘significant health risks’ to elderly, says Health Department
Severe cold weather and snow forecast for this weekend could cause ‘significant health risks’ for the elderly, the Department of Health warned, as they advised families to keep check on vulnerable relatives.
3:53PM GMT 10 Jan 2013
In the next two to three days there is a high chance of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow across large swathes of the country, according to the Health Department.
It said cold weather can be “dangerous”, particularly for the very young and very old, and that the conditions could give rise to “signficant health risks.”
The Met Office this morning issued a cold weather level two alert, the third most severe warning, with forecasters warning temperatures could reach as low as -9C in the early part of next week.
Families were advised to keep a close eye on elderly relatives as well as young children, who are particularly vulnerable in cold patches.
The Met Office said the weather “could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.
‘Target winter fuel benefit to pay for elderly care’
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Social care is in need of reform, many experts say
Winter fuel payments should be means-tested to help pay for care of the elderly, a former minister says.A report by Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow and the Centre Forum think-tank, said targeting the allowance would help pay for a fairer social care system.
The report said it could fund most of the £1.7bn cost of implementing reforms of elderly care in England proposed by the independent Dilnot Commission.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a funding model was yet to be decided.
The Dilnot Commission, which was set up by the government, recommended that the cap on the amount individuals have to pay towards their social care be set at £35,000 over a lifetime.
The commission argued that such a move would protect people from catastrophic care costs that result in them having to sell their homes.
As things stand, older people in England have to contribute to their care costs if they have savings of more than around £23,000.
chenrezig 
annie 
JaneJ 