Sharp rise in winter deaths

The South West saw a 23% increase in deaths

There has been a sharp rise in the number of elderly people in the South West dying in winter, new figures show.

Figures from the charity Age Concern show the number of deaths rose by nearly a quarter between winter 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.

This is nearly three times the rise across the rest of England.

Age Concern said a higher than average number of retired people in the region may be contributing to the figures.

Older people tend to live in the coldest homes and on the lowest income

Gordon Lishman, Age Concern

In the South West, 2,030 people over the age of 65 died during 2000/2001.

In 2001/2002, it increased by 470 to 2,500 people - a rise of about 23%.

During the same period nationally, the increase was 9%, from 23,130 to 25,100.

Age Concern wants winter fuel payments and the basic state pension increased so pensioners can afford to heat their homes.

Age Concern's England director general, Gordon Lishman, said: "Older people tend to live in the coldest homes on the lowest income, often without money to pay for heating."

Poor transport

He also said older people suffer if they are isolated.

He said: "They are frequently are at special risk of social isolation due to poor social networks and lack of transport."

The South West is a popular retirement area.

East Devon has the third highest proportion of people of retirement age in the UK (over 60), at 30.3%, according to the 2001 Census.

Maximising income

An Age Concern spokesperson said: "People retiring to the South West might be far away from family and friends and become isolated.

"They may also be in what was previously a family home, so they are asset rich but money poor."

The Department of Health has started its "Keep Warm Keep Well" campaign.

It said the main aims were to encourage people to use financial support available to improve heating and energy efficiency and to maximise their income.