Damp claims hundreds of OAP deaths

In Sheffield alone there are 308 “avoidable” deaths in the winter months, in Doncaster there are 210, in Barnsley 162 and in Rotherham 104.

As a percentage of the population Barnsley has the biggest problem - with 21 per cent extra winter deaths, followed by Doncaster at 17 per cent, Rotherham at 13 per cent and Sheffield at 12 per cent. Barnsley has one of the highest rates in all of Yorkshire and the Humber.

The percentages are revealed in a Rotherham Council report which also says a large number people are suffering ill-health because they are struggling to pay bills or living in sub-standard properties.

A multi-agency attack has been launched to address the problem in Rotherham by 2016, which is being mirrored across the county. Officials say more than 13,000 people are living in fuel poverty in Rotherham alone.

A Rotherham Council spokesman said: “It is the most vulnerable, like the elderly, very young, sick and poor that are at the greatest risk from fuel poverty.

“Cold and damp homes can act as a major barrier to vulnerable people. For example it may delay discharges from hospital for the elderly, therefore reducing quality of life, and for children it can lead to under-achievement and ill health.

“But most worrying is that many lives could be saved in Rotherham and the rest of the UK if people did not live in cold, damp homes. We have the highest number of avoidable deaths in Western Europe.

“Across Britain there are about 40,000 more deaths between December and March than expected in other months in the year. Much of the seasonal increase is due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease and around two thirds of excess winter deaths can be attributed to the effects of cold.”

Rotherham Council is working with Age Concern, social welfare staff, health and housing workers, plus energy groups to bring affordable warmth to the county by 2016.

Officials want to educate residents in energy conservation and try to help those in most need with loft and cavity wall insulation. Other types of energy-efficient heating measures may also be taken, like installing air and ground heating pumps, which provide both heat and hot water.

Sheffield Council executive director of neighbourhoods and community care Joanne Roney said: “This is an extremely serious issue and we are working with a number of different agencies to try and cut the number of avoidable deaths over the winter.’’