780 local people died due to the cold weather last year

According to the Office for National Statistics an estimated 780 Hertfordshire residents deaths were recorded as ‘excess winter deaths’ during the winter of 2017/2018. The data, published on Wednesday 27 November 2019, also showed that respiratory diseases continued to be the leading cause of excess winter deaths.

Across Hertfordshire the number of excess winter deaths has increased from 450 in 2015/16 to an estimated 780 in 2017/18.

Local charity Hertfordshire Community Foundation conducts an annual Winter Appeal to raise money to be given out in grants to support local people who are struggling to afford to heat their homes and stay warm and well during the winter months.

Helen Gray, Hertfordshire Community Foundation’s Foundation Director says: “Each year Hertfordshire Community Foundation sees an increase in the demand for support from this appeal. We hear of local families who are forced to choose between buying food and paying their rent. Of terminally ill individuals who are constantly cold but can’t afford to heat their homes sufficiently and of elderly people who are anxious about how they will afford their heating bills each month.

“The roll out of Universal Credit, rising fuel prices and higher costs of living are all resulting in more people struggling in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire Community Foundation’s winter appeal provides much needed support. Donations of any size are welcome and every penny raised stays within Hertfordshire. The appeal is also a great way for those that receive the Winter Fuel Allowance, and don’t need it to pay their own bills, to help someone else.”

Donations can be made via Hertfordshire Community Foundation’s website www.hertscf.org.uk, by bank transfer to Account Number 28592379 Sort code 60-10-39 or by sending a cheque made payable to ‘Hertfordshire Community Foundation’ to HCF, Foundation House, 2-4 Forum Place, Fiddlebridge Road, Hatfield AL10 0RN

Excess winter deaths: These are deaths which are directly related to the cold weather. These are people who generally have underlying health problems but would not have been expected to die during this period.
* Office for National Statistics report on Excess winter deaths for local/unitary authorities in England and Wales https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/excesswintermortalityinenglandandwalesreferencetables