Talk

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your questions so far - we've got a few more from Gransnet:

"How do you know when a woman over 85 dies that it is an excess death? I thought statistics had always said that there are more deaths in January to March anyway. Is it not better to persuade the government rather than local authorities? The government is cutting the grants to local authorities so there is not enough money in the pot for them to do anything about it." from durhamjen

"Hello Dan. Many older people are living in poorly heated and poorly insulated homes, putting them at risk. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357409/Review7_Fuel_poverty_health_inequalities.pdf
The coalition government cut back ECO funding (spinning it as "Green Taxes") despite the evidence that investing in home insulation can help prevent premature deaths in the winter and take pressure over the NHS.
I would hope that when we get a Labour government more money can be invested in this. It is a double win as improving energy efficiency is the most cost effective way of reducing carbon emissions.
Are you involved in developing Labour policy in this area? If not, who is? While we await an election is there anything else that can be done by individuals?" from JessM

"Is the number of so-called "excess" deaths falling? For example, is the figure for 2014/15 lower by a significant amount than it was, say, fifty or a hundred years ago? And if so, can this pattern be seen in general with regard to this issue?" from thatbags

"Dan what is your reaction to the report in yesterdays press that the 111 service is causing excess deaths by being slow to respond and giving inaccurate advice and indeed that this has been known about for some time?" from Teetime

"I'm wondering if a lot of elderly people who find it difficult to travel to a surgery stop having the flu jab and it's more difficult these days to get someone to do a house visit to give them the jab." from Tegan

Thanks
MNHQ

One more question from Gransnet:

"Mr Jarvis, Do you think that excess winter deaths could be caused by other factors than just cold homes? Dark evenings and mornings are naturally depressing. People in isolated communities might feel less inclined to go out, so become even more lonely and depressed. Some people are obsessively frugal, even when they have money. Cuts to local services mean that some day centres and libraries have closed and some meals on wheels services have stopped. These were all people who could keep an eye on people. Poorer people tend to live in rented accommodation, which can often be poorly insolated.

Do you think that the current arrangements for winter fuel allowance and the fuel poverty rebates, which electricity companies make, are effective and efficient in targeting those who who need help?" from daphnedill

Some questions from Twitter...

From @manfred698: How are you recovering from the marathon?

From @PatriciaMcDermott on Twitter: 'I pay £200 per month in fuel payments as an OAP. Barnsley Council also increased CC for OAPS. Why?'

From @Gwynnita on Twitter: how did you vote on letting in cold and starving refugees?

Another question from Gransnet, from thatbags

"Is the number of so-called "excess" deaths falling? For example, is the figure for 2014/15 lower by a significant amount than it was, say, fifty or a hundred years ago? And if so, can this pattern be seen in general with regard to this issue?"

From JessM on Gransnet:

"Hello Dan. Many older people are living in poorly heated and poorly insulated homes, putting them at risk. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357409/Review7_Fuel_poverty_health_inequalities.pdf

The coalition government cut back ECO funding (spinning it as "Green Taxes") despite the evidence that investing in home insulation can help prevent premature deaths in the winter and take pressure over the NHS.

I would hope that when we get a Labour government more money can be invested in this. It is a double win as improving energy efficiency is the most cost effective way of reducing carbon emissions.

Are you involved in developing Labour policy in this area? If not, who is? While we await an election is there anything else that can be done by individuals?"

This from @putt1ck on Twitter, on means testing the winter fuel allowance:

'it's expensive and gets it wrong; there's no saving to be made, only political noise.'

From Teetime on Gransnet:

"Dan, what is your reaction to the report in yesterday's press that the 111 service is causing excess deaths by being slow to respond and giving inaccurate advice and indeed that this has been known about for some time?"

From Tegan on Gransnet:

"I'm wondering if a lot of elderly people who find it difficult to travel to a surgery stop having the flu jab and it's more difficult these days to get someone to do a house visit to give them the jab."