Agenda item

Julie Tolhurst introduced this item, outlining the impacts of cold weather on morbidity and excess winter mortality in Barnsley.  Barnsley's excess winter death rate in 2018/19 was 17.7%, with respiratory diseases being the man underlying cause of excess winter deaths in Barnsley.  This is higher in older age groups and reflects the national picture.  Covid-19 has directly and indirectly had an impact on excess mortality from all causes, with shared risk factors amongst the most vulnerable.  There is a time lag in data and progress has been made since these figures were produced.  Reassurances were given that real time data has been looked at during the course of the pandemic, with substantial work done around hospital mortality rates.  The collaborative cold weather plan aims to reduce excess winter deaths in Barnsley and improve flu and Covid vaccinations.  This will be delivered through the Warm Homes Service, Falls Prevention Support, the Flu and Covid Vaccination Programmes, Conditions management and a collaborative communications plan.

Concerns were raised about the forthcoming cut to Universal Credit coupled with rising energy prices.    5000 Berneslai Homes tenants losing £20 per week will have an impact on the most vulnerable which will need to be minimised.  Although some funding will be received from central Government, it is unclear how this gap in finance will be plugged.  A holistic, multifactorial and collaborative approach is necessary, with better sharing of data and understanding across the system, as has been seen during the pandemic. In the early days of Covid, data and joined up intelligence was successfully used to identify people at greatest risk.  Connections with the voluntary and community sector will be of vital importance and the spirit of volunteering which developed over the pandemic will be key to this.   

RESOLVED that the Health and Wellbeing Board note the update and continue to input into the Cold Weather Plan for Barnsley.