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| Winter deaths down 'but a worry' | Winter deaths down 'but a worry' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Deaths in England and Wales fell to 25,700 last winter, a decline of 19% on the previous year. | Deaths in England and Wales fell to 25,700 last winter, a decline of 19% on the previous year. |
| Office for National Statistics data shows the rate, which hit 31,640 in 2004/2005, is back to similar levels as the previous four years. | Office for National Statistics data shows the rate, which hit 31,640 in 2004/2005, is back to similar levels as the previous four years. |
| Statisticians look at deaths between December and March, and compare them to those during the rest of the year. | Statisticians look at deaths between December and March, and compare them to those during the rest of the year. |
| Age Concern and Help the Aged both said more needs to be done to help older people faced with rising heating costs. | Age Concern and Help the Aged both said more needs to be done to help older people faced with rising heating costs. |
| There were 23,450 excess winter deaths in 2003/2004 and 23,970 in 2002/2003. In the winters of 1998/1999 and 1999/2000, there were 46,840 and 48,440 excess deaths respectively. | There were 23,450 excess winter deaths in 2003/2004 and 23,970 in 2002/2003. In the winters of 1998/1999 and 1999/2000, there were 46,840 and 48,440 excess deaths respectively. |
| Fuel poverty | Fuel poverty |
| Age Concern said nearly 90% of all excess winter deaths are of people over the age of 65. | Age Concern said nearly 90% of all excess winter deaths are of people over the age of 65. |
| More than 150,000 over 65s have died during the winters of past six years, it said. | More than 150,000 over 65s have died during the winters of past six years, it said. |
| "It is a national scandal that so many people over 65 are put at risk every winter," said Gordon Lishman, Age Concern's director general. | "It is a national scandal that so many people over 65 are put at risk every winter," said Gordon Lishman, Age Concern's director general. |
| Despite these new figures, many pensioners still agonise about whether or not to heat their homes Steve Jones, Help the Aged | Despite these new figures, many pensioners still agonise about whether or not to heat their homes Steve Jones, Help the Aged |
| "The Government must ensure that decent housing, energy efficiency measures and a higher basic state pension are in place to help older people stay warm." | "The Government must ensure that decent housing, energy efficiency measures and a higher basic state pension are in place to help older people stay warm." |
| Along with Help the Aged, it is calling for on an increase in the government's £200 winter fuel payment. | Along with Help the Aged, it is calling for on an increase in the government's £200 winter fuel payment. |
| Steve Jones, director of communications at Help the Aged said: "The numbers of excess winter deaths may well be falling, but the rates of fuel poverty are climbing ever higher. | Steve Jones, director of communications at Help the Aged said: "The numbers of excess winter deaths may well be falling, but the rates of fuel poverty are climbing ever higher. |
| "Despite these new figures, many pensioners still agonise about whether or not to heat their homes in the cold weather. In the world's fourth richest country, this is simply shameful. | |
| "It's now time for Gordon Brown to put our money where his mouth is and increase the state pension or offer a winter fuel payment that properly combats the recent rise in fuel poverty." | "It's now time for Gordon Brown to put our money where his mouth is and increase the state pension or offer a winter fuel payment that properly combats the recent rise in fuel poverty." |
| Flu jabs | |
| Studies show elderly people, and particularly those on low incomes, are at the greatest risk in the winter. | |
| The majority of deaths are said to be due to strokes and heart attacks, followed by respiratory infections such as flu. | |
| The NHS is helping people, particularly the most vulnerable, to stay healthy during winter Department of Health | |
| The Department of Health said winter fuel and cold weather payments and publicity campaigns have helped older people to lead healthier lives. | |
| "The NHS is helping people, particularly the most vulnerable, to stay healthy during winter," a spokesperson added. | |
| Occurrences of flu were below seasonal averages following the highest take up of flu jabs by the over 65s, it said. | |
| Separate statistics from the Registrar General for Scotland show the nation's winter death toll was the lowest on record. | |
| Deaths fell by nearly 1,000 to 1,790 following a mild winter with no serious flu outbreak. | |
| Meanwhile, ONS data indicate diseases of the circulatory system and cancer made up more than 60% of all deaths in England and Wales in 2005. Such causes continued to show a decline. | |
| Overall, there were 512,692 deaths in England and Wales in 2005 - 243,324 males and 269,368 females. | Overall, there were 512,692 deaths in England and Wales in 2005 - 243,324 males and 269,368 females. |
| There were 3,259 infant deaths in 2005, compared with 3,219 in the previous year, equating to five deaths per 1,000 live births, the same rate as in 2004. | There were 3,259 infant deaths in 2005, compared with 3,219 in the previous year, equating to five deaths per 1,000 live births, the same rate as in 2004. |