§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many winter excess deaths there were, by region, in each of the last 10 years(a) in total number and (b) as a percentage of the elderly population; and what recent measures the Government have taken to reduce the number of winter excess deaths. [30611]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 30 January 2002]: The information requested is shown in the table.
The information is not available as a percentage of the elderly population.
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Excess winter deaths1 by age-group and Government office region of usual residence, 1991–92 to 1999–2000, and 2000–012 Age group 1991–923 1992–933 1993–943 1994–953 1995–963 1996–973 1997–983 1998–993 1999–20003 2000–014 England, Wales and elsewhere 0–64 2,740 2,120 2,120 2,200 2,900 3,040 1,700 3,100 3,770 2,300 65–74 6,360 4,710 4,160 5,490 7,070 6,970 4,200 6,950 7,440 3,300 75–84 13,500 9,330 9,290 9,700 14,370 17,540 7,870 16,340 16,840 8,400 85+ 12,250 9,490 10,330 9,910 15,850 20,140 9,130 20,450 20,390 11,000 All ages 34,850 25,650 25,900 27,290 40,190 47,690 22,900 46,840 48,440 25,000 North-east 0–64 260 160 210 130 250 130 110 90 280 100 65–74 510 280 340 270 520 500 360 470 480 300 75–84 930 550 630 400 650 920 530 890 1,030 600 85+ 560 420 440 420 650 680 550 920 880 500 All ages 2,260 1,410 1,610 1,210 2,080 2,230 1,550 2,370 2,680 1,500 North-west 0–64 430 530 330 230 630 510 280 630 420 200 65–74 1,050 740 510 960 1,000 1,070 500 1,230 1,090 600 75–84 2,020 1,310 1,050 1,410 2,060 2,260 980 2,600 2,060 1,300 85+ 1,480 1,320 1,080 1,190 1,940 2,520 1,010 2,880 2,520 1,600 All ages 4,980 3,880 2,980 3,790 5,630 6,360 2,770 7,350 6,090 3,800 Yorkshire and the Humber 0–64 340 40 190 120 250 240 210 260 350 200 65–74 800 500 620 520 820 700 480 810 680 500 75–84 1,520 870 1,170 1,030 1,440 1,810 860 1,800 1,690 800 85+ 1,320 1,060 1,120 1,100 1,530 1,800 910 1,890 1,900 1,000 All ages 3,970 2,470 3,110 2,780 4,030 4,540 2,460 4,760 4,620 2,600 The causes of excess winter deaths are complex but cold weather and illnesses such as influenza play an important part.
We have introduced a programme of measures, outlined in the United Kingdom fuel poverty strategy, aimed at ensuring people, especially older people, are able to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost.
Health professionals have been encouraged to identify cold/health related issues and raise awareness of help available.
A "Keep Warm, Keep Well" campaign operates in England each winter which provides free booklets for the public and special literature for health professionals; a telephone helpline, and advice on how those most in need may apply for grants (such as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme—a scheme providing grants for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements for those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health); advice on benefit payments; as well as the health benefits of keeping warm.
Influenza vaccine is offered free to everybody aged 65 and over and to those of any age who are in at risk groups, for example with conditions where their health would be at particular risk if they caught influenza. At risk groups are those with chronic heart disease; chronic respiratory disease (including asthma); renal disease,; diabetes mellitus; and immunosuppression due to disease or treatment and also to residents of long-stay residential homes or care facilities.
In 2000–01, 65 per cent. of those aged 65 and over were immunised (the target was a minimum of at least 60 per cent., it was also the first time a target had been set).
Final monitoring figures at the end of December 2001, show that 68 per cent. of those aged 65 and over were immunised this winter. This is 3 percentage points higher than the 65 per cent. target set at the start of the campaign.
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Excess winter deaths1 by age-group and Government office region of usual residence, 1991–92 to 1999–2000, and 2000–012 Age group 1991–923 1992–933 1993–943 1994–953 1995–963 1996–973 1997–983 1998–993 1999–20003 2000–014 East midlands 0–64 260 230 240 240 170 250 130 310 350 200 65–74 640 460 350 580 500 470 360 550 590 300 75–84 1,150 700 900 850 1,110 1,280 700 1,560 1,270 800 85+ 1,090 790 980 660 1,140 1,540 820 1,680 1,620 1,000 All ages 3,140 2,180 2,470 2,330 2,930 3,540 2,000 4,090 3,820 2,200 West midlands 0–64 380 270 280 250 250 410 250 470 440 300 65–74 670 520 320 600 880 740 510 750 950 400 75–84 1,260 970 860 700 1,580 1,650 800 1,730 1,810 1,000 85+ 1,060 830 950 760 1,460 1,740 900 1,920 2,090 900 All ages 3,370 2,590 2,400 2,310 4,160 4,530 2,460 4,860 5,290 2,600 East 0–64 150 180 170 240 180 240 170 130 330 100 65–74 560 400 550 560 480 710 410 640 670 200 75–84 1,180 850 1,010 1,110 1,380 1,720 930 1,590 1,800 1,000 85+ 1,240 940 1,220 1,090 1,830 2,320 1,030 2,440 2,070 1,200 All ages 3,130 2,360 2,940 3,000 3,870 5,000 2,540 4,800 4,880 2,400 London 0–64 300 310 290 380 440 430 150 420 470 300 65–74 720 560 490 530 860 870 320 670 930 300 75–84 1,690 1,220 1,130 1,370 1,680 2,240 930 1,690 2,050 800 85+ 1,540 1,260 1,240 1,230 1,840 2,390 1,120 2,160 2,430 1,400 All ages 4,240 3,360 3,150 3,500 4,830 5,940 2,520 4,940 5,870 2,800 South east 0–64 360 160 90 220 310 420 250 370 630 300 65–74 660 840 530 690 940 870 570 890 1,050 200 75–84 1,790 1,360 1,340 1,330 2,230 2,770 990 2,190 2,470 1,000 85+ 1,760 1,400 1,780 1,750 2,670 3,600 1,410 3,260 3,530 1,600 All ages 4,560 3,770 3,750 3,990 6,150 7,650 3,210 6,710 7,680 3,200 South-west 0–64 110 120 310 280 250 300 120 230 310 300 65–74 440 220 330 550 690 600 400 420 620 200 75–84 1,380 850 810 920 1,320 1,830 700 1,380 1,580 500 85+ 1,420 990 1,150 1,100 1,880 2,320 1,020 2,100 2,220 1,200 All ages 3,350 2,180 2,600 2,850 4,140 5,060 2,240 4,130 4,730 2,300 Wales 0–64 240 200 50 200 180 120 90 230 220 200 65–74 360 260 180 270 420 490 360 540 420 200 75–84 610 670 420 570 920 1,050 480 930 1,090 600 85+ 780 490 370 600 910 1,220 350 1,200 1,150 600 All ages 1,980 1,610 1,010 1,650 2,440 2,880 1,290 2,900 2,880 1,700 England 0–64 2,590 2,010 2,100 2,090 2,720 2,930 1,660 2,900 3,570 2,100 65–74 6,050 4,510 4,050 5,250 6,690 6,520 3,890 6,430 7,070 3,100 75–84 12,900 8,670 8,900 9,110 13,450 16,490 7,410 15,430 15,770 7,800 85+ 11,470 9,000 9,960 9,300 14,940 18,910 8,770 19,250 19,250 10,400 All ages 33,010 24,190 25,020 25,750 37,810 44,850 21,740 44,010 45,650 23,400 England and Wales 0–64 2,820 2,210 2,150 2,290 2,910 3,050 1,760 3,130 3,790 2,300 65–74 6,410 4,770 4,230 5,520 7,120 7,010 4,260 6,970 7,490 3,300 75–84 13,520 9,340 9,320 9,690 14,380 17,540 7,890 16,360 16,850 8,400 85+ 12,250 9,490 10,330 9,900 15,850 20,130 9,120 20,450 20,400 11,000 All ages 35,000 25,810 26,030 27,400 40,250 47,730 23,030 46,900 48,520 25,000 1 Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July). 2 Provisional. 3 Rounded to the nearest 10. 4 Provisional, rounded to the nearest 100.