Anger over 'cold' weather deaths

The charity wants more action to help pensioners

A leading Scottish charity has claimed thousands of pensioners are dying every winter because of poor housing conditions.

Figures published by Help the Aged Scotland show the number of elderly people dying increases by about 2% for every degree the temperature falls below 20 degrees.

It believes those dying from cold-related illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia this winter will soar following the recent drop in temperatures.

And it has described the deaths as "needless" and called on the Scottish Executive and local authorities to take preventative action.

The charity says elderly people suffer during cold snaps

The research, which was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, shows that 4,331 more elderly people died in Scotland between December 1999 and March 2000 than over a similar period the year before.

Help the Aged's Liz Duncan said: "It is still terrible that in 2001 so many older people are dying from cold related illnesses.

"Every needless death is a private tragedy and a public disgrace.

"Help the Aged is looking for a determined policy backed up by adequate resources together with community action to combat this on-going scandal."

Advertsing campaign

Although the charity has welcomed plans by the executive to install free central heating for 70,000 pensioners it says more must be done at local and national level.

But an executive spokeswoman said a series of measures had already been put in place to further protect the health of Scotland's elderly population.

She said: "In September we launched a nationwide advertising campaign encouraging Scots aged 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses to come forward for a free flu vaccination."

The spokeswoman added that the target of immunising at least 60% of people over 65 had been exceeded during a recent £10m campaign.

She also pointed out that the deputy chief medical officer, Andrew Fraser, had provided heating and nutritional advice to the elderly designed to prevent illness.