McCarthy hits out at Executive over level of elderly cold deaths

Alliance Health spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has hit out against the Executive over the news that last winter saw the highest number of deaths amongst the elderly from the cold in the last decade. The 873 deaths have been attributed to the steep rise in fuel prices last year.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “I am shocked by the number of elderly people who died from the cold last winter. The Executive must do better to protect the elderly during the winter. They must ensure that there is sufficient funding for the warm homes scheme to ensure our elderly people do not have to make the choice between heating and eating

“The Executive had amply time to put more money into ensuring our elderly would not suffer from the effects the winter. There was a large demonstration last November at Stormont, in which I attended, calling on the Executive to act to prevent people from having to choose between ‘heat or eat’. Yet it took several months for them to do anything.

“It is time senior citizens had sufficient income to at least ensure their homes are kept warm to avoid these unnecessary deaths.”

ENDS

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