Medact and Warm This Winter poll: patients being “failed” by Govt’s “callous” Winter Fuel Payment cut

EMBARGO: 00.01 Tuesday 4th March

Responding to a poll published by Medact and Warm This Winter which found that 70% of health workers regularly see patients unable to pay energy bills, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

“It is infuriating to think that so many people who otherwise would be healthy and able to live their lives to the fullest are in pain and forced to endure an NHS that is already at breaking point as they can't heat their homes properly.

“The Conservative Party pushed our NHS and household finances to the brink but the Labour government has done next to nothing in turning this around.

“They have failed pensioners with their callous cut to Winter Fuel Payments and the lack of a social tariff on energy bills for the most vulnerable means there is not enough support for those struggling.

“The Government urgently needs to change course to protect people's bills and ultimately keep them out of hospital.”

ENDS