Winter deaths rising says MSP

The MSP says more must be done to help

The number of people dying during the winter months has risen sharply, according to Scotland's only Green MSP.

Robin Harper said cold and damp houses are partly responsible, and he has called on the Scottish Executive to step up its efforts to eradicate fuel poverty.

Executive ministers said they are spending £350m to provide central heating for all pensioners within the next five years.

Mr Harper, MSP for the Lothians region, said figures from the Registrar General for Scotland showed the number of deaths in the winter compared to other seasons has doubled in the past two years.

Robin Harper: More people dying in winter

He has demanded urgent action to tackle the problem of poor quality housing and inadequate insulation which he said is at the root of the problem.

For thousands of pensioners the choice is often between heating or eating, he said.

Mr Harper said that while he accepted the last two winters have seen significant flu outbreaks, those living in cold, damp homes are most susceptible.

The executive said it is spending £350m over the next five years to provide central heating for all pensioners - and all council or housing association homes.

A spokesman said that following last year's flu outbreak, all pensioners had been offered inoculation this winter - and the number of cases was significantly down.

The MSP's allegations echo those of leading charity Help the Aged Scotland, which said thousands of pensioners are dying every winter because of poor housing conditions.

Figures published in January showed the number of elderly people dying increased by about 2% for every degree the temperature fell below 20 degrees.

National level

The deaths have been described as "needless", with the executive and local authorities urged to take preventative action.

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

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