New weapon launched to curb winter deaths in Burnley and Pendle (From This Is Lancashire)

New weapon launched to curb winter deaths in Burnley and Pendle

1:30pm Friday 25th December 2009

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FOUR new fuel poverty officers have been urged to curb the high number of winter deaths recorded across Burnley and Pendle.

Around 80 more people die in the neighbouring boroughs each year when the cold snap begins, according to official figures, from conditions such as heart and respiratory diseases The figures are among the highest in Lancashire and are the incentive for a new Burnley and Pendle home energy strategy.

Part of the problem can be attributed to the high ratio of pre-1920s homes, lacking insulation, still present in Burnley, Briefield, Nelson and Colne.

Their chief weapon is the recruitment of four review, assessment and support officers (RASOs), whose task it is to help the over-65s battle the issue of fuel poverty.

Simple measures like reviewing their current care arrangements, providing extra blankets or hot water bottles, to helping pensioners manage their household budgets could prove most effective, the Lancashire Local Burnley committee has heard.

The RASOs will be employed as part of a 12 month pilot scheme but it is hoped that if they prove effective then their role could be extended to other Lancashire boroughs.

Work is being carried out using funding from Whitehall’s Social Care Reform Grant and also involves Burnley and Pendle councils.

County council social services adult services spokesman Tom Daniels said: “Prior to this project there were no formally established processes agreed between Burnley Borough Council and the county council to ensure that service users were given the opportunity to be linked with relevant support.

“It is envisaged that the pilot will deliver positive outcomes to benefit a significant number of vulnerable people in receipt of services from the adult and community services directorate.”

The RASOs will study for City and Guilds qualifications in energy awareness and liaise closely with borough council home energy officers, covering issues such as home heating and insulation.

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