GPs could prescribe warmth on the NHS to pensioners losing their Winter Fuel Payment (Image: PA)
GPs on the NHS could ‘prescribe warmth’ to pensioners struggling without their £300 .
Labour’s Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed the party is interested in bringing in ‘warmth on prescription’ for those struggling to heat their homes following the axeing of the universal and the need to claim a qualifying benefit instead, like Pension Credit, this winter.
A new scheme which sees warmth prescribed to pensioners in need has already been trialled and it could be rolled out nationally in future.
:
In winter 2021-2022, Gloucestershire and Energy Systems Catapult piloted a scheme to help vulnerable people on low incomes and those with conditions aggravated the cold by prescribing warmth to them.
The goal was to keep them well in their own homes and reduce hospital admissions, thereby saving the NHS money too.
The pilot study of 28 people included those under 60 on free prescriptions or those over 60 who struggled to pay their heating bill.
A local energy charity was sent out to check their heating system, show people how to use their controls, upgrade heating controls, offer insulation and to pay for energy, such as calling a supplier to add credit to their account.
Catapult Energy Systems said: “The Warm Home Prescription pilot in Gloucestershire ran successfully from December 2021 to March 2022 with NONE of the 28 participants being hospitalised.”
Today, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall seemed to confirm that the scheme is one that could be on the table.
:
Speaking in the House of Commons, Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, said: “We are really, really worried now, as winter is approaching, about the impact this is going to have, particularly on the health of older people.
“Will she look at the work that has been done by Energy Systems Catapult and NHS Gloucestershire in social prescribing to ensure that people can receive energy payments that way?”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall replied: “I am determined to bring forward the merger of housing benefit and pension credit, which the former government delayed for years.
“And I very much agree with the need to bring together social prescribing, help from the household support fund, and other areas, to make sure pensioners get all the help they need.”