One Gloucestershire mother of two had her winter turned around when she was referred to Severn Wye as part of the ‘Warm Homes Prescription’ pilot scheme. Her arthritis and serious pulmonary illness meant she seized up in cold weather, with extreme pain in her joints and bones.
After a home visit, Severn Wye’s community-based energy adviser was able to assess her needs, access the scheme funding, and offer energy-saving advice in the meantime. Having her energy bills covered over the coldest months meant the family home was warm and bright over the winter at no cost to this vulnerable mum. She described the difference as ‘mind-blowing’.
Having spent some of the previous winter confined to bed or in hospital with pneumonia and pleurisy, this next winter was different – not just for her but for her daughters. Able to stay at home in comfort meant her children could have more of a life too.
‘I was able to be a mum,’ she said. ‘And my kids could be kids, not just carers.’
Doctors involved the pilot reported the NHS and patients alike were seeing the benefits in a matter of days, as well as reduced medical costs and workloads.
Unfortunately that same winter more than 2,000 patients with similar health conditions in Gloucestershire fell seriously ill or needed emergency hospital care, costing local NHS services an estimated £6m.
It’s easy to see how combining energy and health can make a measurable difference in safeguarding our frontline services and supporting the health of vulnerable residents.
