Embargoed until 00:01 Tuesday 26 November 2013
NHS to raise army of Good Samaritans for winter
The NHS has today issued acall for 100,000 people to sign a pledge saying they will look in on an elderly friend or neighbour this winter.
Each winter thousands ofpeople in England die as a result of cold weather. Most are over 75 and most of these deaths could be avoided. Hundreds of thousands of others spend much of the winter alone and lonely.
The campaign, led by the NHS Choices website ( andsupported by the Daily Mail and the Telegraph media groups, seeks to help by appealing to an old-fashioned sense of neighbourliness. Specifically, it is asking for 100,000 people to sign an electronic pledge that states: “I will take time out this winter to look in on an elderly friend or neighbour to make sure they are warm and coping well.”
Those who sign the Winter Friends pledge will receive free cold weather alerts and email tips throughout the winter to help them do their bit.
One of the first to sign the pledge is the actress and campaigner Joanna Lumley. She said yesterday that becoming a Winter Friend would not just help the elderly but bring great rewards to those that took part.
Miss Lumley said: “A little help really does go a long way. You will also find, I’m sure, that giving a bit of your time in this way is hugely rewarding. Older people can be physically frail but they have a lifetime’s wisdom and experience to share.
“That’s why I’m proud to lend my support to the NHS Winter Friends Pledge. Please join me and together we can make sure this winter is a wonderful winter for everyone.”
Other prominent figures supporting the campaign include the Olympic gold medalist Sally Gunnell, the actorsSir Tony Robinson and Olivia Colman, the television presenters Richard Madeley and Jenni Falconer, and the rapper Plan B.
People who wish to sign the pledge and join the NHS Winter Friends campaign should go to Signing the pledge takes only a moment but research suggests that if 100,000 people sign many lives will be enriched and many deaths avoided.
In England, 51% of all people over 75live alone and 5m older people say the television is their main form of company. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are also harmful to our physical health. Studies indicate that lack of social connections is as likely to cause early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
The initiative is part of wider NHS campaign to encourage people to take care of their health during winter.
NHS England recently published analysis showing that the number of unnecessary emergency admissions to hospital rises in winter. It showed that older people are most likely to be affected and that the one of the biggest issues is respiratory conditions.
Professor Mike Morgan, National Clinical Director for Respiratory Health, said: “My message to the public is simple: look after yourself this winter. If you know someone who is frail or elderly or has an existing health problem and they are feeling unwell, encourage them to seek early advice, go to their local pharmacy or GP before one problem leads to another and they end up in hospital.”
Notes to editors
Five ways you can help after signing the Winter Friends pledge
- Set some time aside to drop in on an older neighbour or friend once a week - more often if the weather turns very cold.
- Check their home is warm enough. The main living area should be around 21°C (70°F) and bedrooms should be 18°C (65°F). If they are worried about the costs of heating, check they are receiving their heating bill benefits, such asWinter Fuel Payment ( and Cold Weather Payment ( If there are draughts you may be able to help plug them.
- Food is a vital source of energy that helps keep us warm. Make sure the person you are looking in on is eating well and has some non-perishable foods in the cupboard that they can heat up in case they can't leave the house for a few days. Tinned meals and soups are ideal.
- Many older people take medicines and everyone over 65 should have a free flu jab. Ask if there is anything you can do to help – picking up a prescription or giving them a lift to the GP’s, for instance. And if you are unwell take real care not to pass it on.
- It’s also important for people to keep active and get out if they can. Make sure the person you are helping has warm and grippy shoes and a good coat, hat and gloves. Offer to walk with them if they are not confident alone. If it snows clear the path to their door for them.
What our supporters say
Sir Tony Robinson: “This year we can overcome our natural British reserve and doa little something that could be of real help. On the next frosty morning, why not make sure that someone you know is safe, warm and getting a nourishing meal?
“Join me in signing up to the NHS Choices Winter Friends pledge to look in on a vulnerable friend or neighbour this winter. It may be the best Christmas present you ever give.”
Richard Madeley: ‘The simple act of popping round to check on an elderly person, or couple, at this time of year potentially represents a lot more than just a kind gesture - it could save lives. Harsh weather is hazardous for old folk and they need checking up on. Your visit could deliver them from distress, illness, or worse.”
Winter health facts
- There were an estimated 31,000 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2012/13.Excess winter deaths refers to increased mortality in winter compared to the summer months. (ONS:
- Not everyone is affected equally by the cold. The majority of excess winter deaths in 2012/13 were among those aged 75 and over; there were 25,600 excess winter deaths in this age group in 2012/13 compared with 5,500 in the under 75-year-olds.
- Cold weather increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, lung illnesses, flu and other diseases. People slip and fall in the snow or ice, sometimes suffering serious injuries. (The Cold Weather Plan for England 2013,
- More than half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone. (Campaign to End Loneliness:
- Lonely people are more likely to visit their GP, have higher use of medication, higher incidence of falls and increased risk factors for long term care. (Campaign to End Loneliness:
- One in twenty (5%) people aged 65 and over in the UK say they spent Christmas Day 2010 alone. (Age UK:
- 6% of older people (nearly 600,000) leave their house once a week or less. (Age UK:
Winter health links
- To sign the Winter Friends pledge go to
- For general information on winter health visit
- For a government leaflet on keeping well in winter go to:
Winter in context
The NHS has worked hard to prepare winter and some £400m has been injected to help support the NHS over the period.
Demand on NHS hospital resources has increased dramatically over the past 10 years, with a 35 per cent increase in emergency hospital admissions and a 65 per cent increase in secondary care episodes for those over 75 years.
- Last year, there were over 21 million visits to A&E or nearly 60,000 attendances every day
- There were 6.8 million attendances at walk in centres and minor injury units in 2012/13, and activity at these facilities has increased by around 12 per cent annually since these data were first recorded a decade ago
- The average number of consultations in general practice per patient rose from 4.1 to 5.5 per year between 1999 and 2008
- Last year, there were 51.4 million GP appointments, one in five for minor ailments such as coughs, colds and hair lice
- Attendances at hospital A&E departments have increased by more than 2 million over the past decade
- The number of calls received by the ambulance service over the last decade has risen from 4.9 million to over 9 million
- Emergency admissions to hospitals in England have increased year on year, rising 31 per cent from 2002/03 to 2012/13
Further background information on winter pressures and increases in emergency admissions can be found at:
Contacts
Michelle Kane or Christina Lloyd
NHS England
Tel: 0207 972 2805
Mobile: 07768 901293
Paul Nuki
Chief Editor, NHS Choices
Tel: 0207972 5230
Mobile: 07770 536 043
Ends