A record number of deaths related to cold in UK
Record numbers of people have died unnecessarily in cases related to the cold this year as ¿gures show the country has the highest number of winter deaths from cold and Àu for almost 20 years.
Examples of avoidable deaths include infections such as pneumonia taking hold because the immune system is slower due to low temperatures and heart attacks and strokes which can also be triggered by cold conditions, express.co.uk reported.
The ¿gures compiled for the Sunday Express by Intelligent Health come as the country faces the coldest week in March for 150 years with heavy snow and severe frost forecast this week.
The data reveals there have already been 33,464 avoidable deaths this winter (December 1 to mid-february).
Professor James Goodwin for Age UK said: “We have known about avoidable deaths for decades and every time it gets cold we have thousands more.
“It is likely the number of deaths from the forthcoming cold spell will lead to a scandalously higher number of deaths compared to other European countries.”
The data reveals Britain has the most avoidable deaths in northern Europe with almost 16 percent of its annual deaths classi¿ed as avoidable.
Next is Belgium on 15.7 percent, followed by Austria 13.2 percent, and the Netherlands on 12.3 percent.
At the bottom are traditionally colder countries including Slovakia, Iceland and Finland. Bird said: “There is much talk about the NHS crumbling, but in fact much of the pressure due to the huge rises in admissions are because of avoidable illness and death due to cold and Àu.”
A recent report by housing charity Shelter found 48 percent of families in social housing who reported issues around poor or unsafe conditions were ignored or refused help.
The news comes as it was warned parts of Britain could be colder than the North Pole with temperatures dropping to -8ºc and four inches of snow expected to fall this week.
There are fears the cold weather may last for another month.
Some rural communities could become cut off and there is a risk of delays to road, rail and air travel.
“It’s expected to stay cold all week,” said Met Of¿ce meteorologist Martin Bowles.
“Spring will come eventually but it will be postponed.” Snow is due to hit southeast England tomorrow.