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1. Delve deeper into the data, try to establish some connective tissue between ward level activities and the perceived health needs of areas of the city

2. Support to fuel poor households with specific health needs:

3. Advice - Tie in advice on fuel poverty assistance with existing information provision, e.g. promotion of the NHS Keep Warm, Keep Well booklets, additional information included in flu jab mailings

The recent winter period has seen dramatic increases in gas and electricity costs for every household and almost certainly has increased the number of vulnerable households who are at risk of fuel poverty.

We want to delve deeper into the data which is now becoming available to us, try to establish some connective tissue between ward level activities and the perceived health needs of areas of the city.  The aim of the work will be to highlight areas of the city which may need increased targeted work. 

There are three main ways that we can help to ensure that fuel poor households, with specific health needs, that are eligible for assistance, receive help:

To progress this work we need to understand the different elements which beneficially affect vulnerable individuals and families.

WarmZone Project

Newcastle Warm Zone (NWZ) is a not for profit partnership between Newcastle City Council, Your Homes Newcastle, National Grid, ScottishPower and others, including the PCT, total planned investment for the core energy efficiency improvement works is around £3.5 million.

NWZ aims to reduce fuel poverty and improve domestic energy efficiency as far as is practicable.  In so doing the project aims to reduce health inequalities; improve social and economic inclusion and tackle climate change by reducing energy use.

In June 2008, the Department of Health published a document outlining Health Inequalities progress and next steps. This outlines a new vision for health inequalities as follows:

"In a fair and prosperous society, everyone should have the same chance to lead a long and healthy life and enjoy the same opportunities for education, employment, recreation and fulfillment that good health brings."

We have not yet identified any local views regarding this issue.

Decent Homes Standard

The Local Authority has an ongoing programme of work to address the target and considerable progress has been made over the past two years.

Flu Immunisation

The national health inequalities target - Life expectancy

Starting with Local Authorities, by 2010 to reduce by at least 10% the life expectancy gap between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators and the population as a whole (from 1995-97 baseline).

The Newcastle Partnerships Local Area Agreement 2008 - 2011 contains the following health inequalities target: