WARMER HEALTHIER HOMES

WORKING TO IMPROVE PRACTICE IN THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECTOR

Health and social care practitioners need not be experts in fuel poverty or affordable warmth.  They simply need to be able to recognise fuel poverty as one of the wider determinants of ill health and health inequality and be prepared to work in partnership with local government and other agencies to signpost, support and action affordable warmth solutions for households. 

The 1998 'Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health' (Acheson Report), commissioned by the Department of Health, showed that much of the variation in the nation's health was linked to material deprivation, and specifically recommended: "policies to improve insulation and heating systems in new and existing buildings in order to reduce the prevalence of fuel poverty".

Poor quality housing is a major factor in the prevalence of fuel poverty. Cold, damp homes, which are inadequately heated and ventilated, have repeatedly been linked to both ill health and premature mortality amongst the most vulnerable people in society. The link between energy inefficient housing and ill health is now well documented and contributes to a massive burden of preventable illness for the health and social care sector. It causes and exacerbates a number of medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses - such as bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma as well as being a contributing factor in strokes. In addition, people living in cold and damp conditions tend to be at greater risk of falls and accidents in the home and suffer more from a range of common illnesses such as colds and flu, with elderly people and young children being particularly at risk.  The mental health impacts of cold, damp and inadequate housing is still an emerging field of study although evidence supports the view that householders do suffer housing stress which is detrimental to their quality of life and general well-being.

The emergence of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy 2001 and subsequent delivery plan recognise that the wider health and social care sector has a clear role to play in assisting households to achieve sufficient warmth for health and comfort at an affordable cost.  Furthermore, the Treasury, in its spending review 2003-2006, identified poor housing as a major cause of inequality and ill-health.  As a response, the issue has been acknowledged as a cross-sectoral concern in recent housing policy initiatives including the Decent Homes Standardand the introduction of the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System. Fuel poverty is also a factor in broader health policy via the Programme for Action on health inequalities, the Choosing Health Action Plan and action on healthier communities involving local government and the wider health and social care sector.  Increasingly so Local Area Agreements are acknowledging fuel poverty as a priority and in many cases public health agencies are pursuing this agenda as a priority issue. 

NEA has been involved in the development and delivery of a range of projects with a health and social care dimension in recent years.  Our policy and strategy development activity seeks to involve health and social care agencies in developing integrated practice responses via local and regional strategy development.  However, NEA has also developed practical projects, which have sought to reduce health impacts in cold homes through technological innovation to meet the needs of older people, those with young children and those living with illness or disabilities. 

NEA's work programme 2007-2008 includes, for example, a range of projects:

• Assisting Health Trainers programme- a programme of awareness-raising for health trainers to explain how action to reduce fuel poverty can also meet local health priorities.  Resources for local dissemination will be available on NEA's website from April 2008.
• SingleAssessment Process programme - this programme builds on work in previous years which culminated in the production of 'Prevention is better than cure', a guide to assessing household risks through SAP.  NEA is currently assisting those working in social care to understand the links between poor housing, fuel poverty and health and look at how to develop local SAP/ Common Assessment Framework protocols and services to respond to the needs of vulnerable households.  Awareness resources for trainers and managers will be available on NEA's website from April 2008. 
• Children's Trust programme- NEA has been working to develop basic awareness resources for policy makers, parents and those working at the frontline through Children's Trusts with to encourage referral of vulnerable households into available sources of assistance.  Resources will be available on NEA's website from April 2008 
• Technical innovation - NEA has a well-developed technical work programme and is currently looking at a range of heating, ventilation and other solutions for those living in poor housing. For more details contact NEA.  

NEA has been involved in the production of a range of publications in recent years, which promote partnership working with health sector partners and/or seek to promote the development of good practice to tackle affordable warmth (see the publications section of NEA's website). NEA remains committed to working with the wider health and social care sector on the development of policy and practice, which will improve the health and well being of vulnerable households.  NEA remains a key partner at a national level in the national Health Inequalities and Winter Warmth Group Reference Group and the Energy Efficiency Partnership For Homes Housing Health and Safety Rating System Task Group.  NEA has direct links into the Department of Health and works with local and regional health partners each year to provide information to support local policy and practice developments.

NEA is keen to partner agencies where possible on the development of innovative health related projects with an affordable warmth dimension, please contact Malcolm Dove, Operations Manager at NEA for details on 0191 261 5677 or malcolm.dove@nea.org.uk.  For general health related information, guidance publications or research findings contact NEA’s library and information service on 0191 261 5677.

Updated January 2008

Reviewed: 30/01/2008