A SPECIAL strategy to help save up to 431 mostly elderly lives a year who die due to winter illnesses and keep up to 3,448 people out of hospital across North Yorkshire is being supported by public health chiefs.

They’re calling on community and public groups across the county to support the plan, which is currently out for consultation. The five year strategy builds on campaigns launched last year.

The impact of cold weather on health is estimated to cost the NHS nationally £1.5b a year with over 18,000 people dying prematurely last winter.

In a report to the county council’s health and wellbeing board, Director of Public health Dr Lincoln Sergeant said the main aim is to tackle winter health issues, particularly fuel poverty, cold damp homes and increasing the take up of flu vaccinations.

"This can make a significant contribution to reducing winter pressures on health and social care services and improve the health and wellbeing of the population.

Across North Yorkshire there is a growing older population, many of whom are living in rural areas with fixed incomes. This older demographic is important to consider, together with the quality of the housing stock which is also older and less energy efficient.”

They say ten per cent of the households in the county around 26,000 individuals and families live in fuel poverty. These include 3,541 in Hambleton, 2,225 in Richmondshire, 6,279 in Harrogate and 2,738 in Ryedale.

Dr Sergeant said excess UK winter deaths are three times higher than other colder countries in Northern Europe. One of the major issues is to raise awareness through a new campaign entitled “Keep Well, Keep Warm, Keep Safe”.

Cllr David Chance, Executive member for Public Health said people over 75 and under five are particularly at risk.

He said: “ In North Yorkshire during 2012/13 there were 431 excess winter deaths. These are the number of excess deaths that occur between December and March. For every excess winter death it is estimated there are an additional eight emergency admissions to hospital.

”We want to work together in partnership with each other, individuals and groups, including the independent and public sector to identify and provide support to reduce the number of vulnerable people in North Yorkshire whose lives are negatively affected by the cold.

“If we target our efforts jointly we can dramatically improve our local response to the increasingly recognised public health and social challenge of being too cold”

The new strategy is due to be launched in March.