Health Scrutiny Panel: Health Through Warmth Review Mandy Findlay Project Officer Energy Efficiency Wolverhampton City Council Helen Marshall Midlands Project Coordinator npower Health Through Warmth

What is Health Scrutiny? Undertaken by the council, it’s about influencing change in areas of public concern. Holds to account those in power Complete review of chosen project Develops new ideas Monitors the performance of the project Involves the public, press and partners

Wolverhampton Has… 710 Excess Winter Deaths 12% of children live in homes without central heating 85% of older people have central heating Almost 24% of households too expensive to heat 20% of the population suffer from varying degrees of fuel poverty

Scrutiny Question: How effective has the Health Through Warmth initiative been in providing energy efficiency measures that reduce health inequalities in Wolverhampton? Aim: To scrutinise the Health Through Warmth initiative Produce a report that made recommendations for the development of the initiative

What is Health Through Warmth? The largest element of Wolverhampton’s Affordable Warmth Strategy Partnership between npower, local and Central Government, the NHS and NEA Trains Key workers Referral scheme Criteria is ill health due to living in a cold/damp home Central referral point identifies the most appropriate solution

History of HTW Set up by npower in 2000 in Midlands Wolverhampton one of first pilot areas commencing 2001 Good relationship with all partners Concerns in early 2003 regarding sustainability Autumn 2003, scrutiny undertaken May 2004, report received

Health Scrutiny Process Review Group received evidence from HTW partners and clients Sent questionnaires to get views of referrers, clients and voluntary organisations Gathered information from other authorities and experts in this field HTW training delivered to members of the scrutiny review group

Conclusions…… Health Through Warmth has resulted in health benefits for clients The NHS has benefited financially Training needs to be targeted Clients need to be targeted Link with new funding opportunities It was recognised that the programme works within the constraints of other grant schemes As a result Review Group made 8 recommendations

Recommendation 1 The City Council, Primary Care Trust and Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust work jointly to ensure that the 1.5 posts supporting Health Through Warmth continue after December NHS organisations nominate an ‘Affordable Warmth Champion’ who will be responsible for this work within their organisation and linking with the Affordable Warmth Action Group.

Recommendation 3 Health Through Warmth referrals are mainstreamed through existing assessment procedures including hospital admission/ discharge, the PCT review of care services and the older person’s single assessment process.

Recommendation 5 Links are further developed with voluntary and community organisations through the Voluntary Sector Council and Community Empowerment Network

The future…… HTW becoming sustainable with funding and commitment from all partners Regular monitoring Increase referrals therefore increase number of people experiencing health benefits Increased financial benefit to PCT

Questions?

For more information contact Mandy Findlay decision_making/scrutiny/policy_reviews/completed/ impact_housing_health.htm Helen Marshall