A successful scheme has been applauded for assisting individuals like Tony to keep their houses warm during winter whilst helping to manage their COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) condition.
A collaboration between South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough Council’s Public Health, the North East and North Cumbria ICB and Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) was formed to tackle the rate of admissions for COPD in the South Tees area – which is significantly higher than the England average.
Thanks to these organisations securing funding via Northern Gas Networks, the “COPD Project: Warmer Homes Better Health Project” was rolled out to support COPD patients to help with their fuel payments this winter.
As part of the initiative, the trust’s respiratory clinics identified patients with COPD living in the Tees Valley and referred them to a supportive assessment service team.
Following a referral, the service reviews their entitlements to housing and heating-related benefits and offers a debit card loaded with £300 to help with energy costs.
Since October 2024, the scheme has supported more than 800 patients across the Tees Valley to keep their homes warm during winter.
Moreover, individuals are also referred to additional services like making every contact count, including support to maximise benefits, support to stop smoking services and mental health support services to improve their health and wellbeing
Consultant in public health Michelle Stamp said:
Lung conditions are estimated to cost wider society around £9.9 billion each year. Respiratory disease affects one in five people in England and is the third biggest cause of death.
“Mortality rates for those with respiratory disease are higher in areas of social deprivation such as Teesside, and living in cold homes increases the risk of respiratory admissions in older people with pre-existing health conditions.​
“Thanks to the success of the scheme, more than 800 individuals have benefitted – helping them to manage their COPD condition and heat their houses whilst reducing further admissions to hospitals.”
One of the many individuals to have received the £300 and extensive support was Tony Lamerton from Middlesbrough.
The 76-year-old, who is a local radio presenter, was in and out of hospitals and his GP practice due to his COPD condition.
A referral to Middlesbrough Environment City from his GP made him eligible for the “COPD Project: Warmer Homes Better Health Project”.
As a result, Tony has been relieved of the financial worries of heating his home and applauded the scheme for helping him immensely.
He said: “I was surprised when I got a phone call letting me know that I am eligible for this particular scheme. After a few weeks, they sent me a bank card loaded with £300.
“This amount of money has made my life easier as it helped with paying off a couple of months’ worth of bills during this winter.”