Calls for ‘refugee scheme’ to help OAPs through fuel crisis

BRITAIN will need a Ukrainian refugee-style hosting system to help vulnerable people cope with the winter fuel crisis, a leading expert has warned.

- Lucy Johnston

Dr William Bird, who has advised the Government on winter health forecasts, says that the extreme measures are needed because the country is facing a crisis on a similar scale to that of the pandemic.

Dr Bird, who founded the health forecasting unit at the Met Office, warned that soaring fuel costs are expected to cause “many thousands of excess deaths” from cold.

His comments follow new forecasts which last week predicted an 81 per cent rise in the energy cap from October, bringing the average household bill for those on default tariffs to £4,266 a year by January.

Consultants Auxilione have predicted regulator Ofgem will then raise the price cap to £5,038 from April.

Dr Bird said: “We have to target that group who are most vulnerable, the elderly, those living alone and those who are housebound, and as a population we have to step in to help wherever we can – in a situation similar to the Ukraine crisis.

“We need to take people into our homes, sharing the responsibility with families and friends to keep people warm.”

Dr Bird, CEO of Intelligent Health, which aims to improve fitness and lifestyle, added: “When temperatures drop in winter we always have an increase in deaths.