Cathy Boyd, Snow Angels CICAlison Paul, Cheshire & Wirral Partnership

Trust

Winter Planning• Primary objective – reducing excess winter deaths and emergency admissionshttp://snowangels.org.uk/media-coverage/• Primary target – older people living in

Cheshire West• Community support for vulnerable people• Key health messages• Further information and support

Keeping well in west Cheshire• Strategic Planning• Advance warning and advice during the winter

months (next slide)• Communicating with the public• Communicating with service providers• Engaging the community

Advance WarningLevel 0 Long term planning – all year

Level 1 Winter preparedness programme 1 November – 31 March

Level 2

Severe winter weather is forecast – Alert and readinessMean temperature of 2 C and/or widespread ice and heavy snow are predicted within 24 hours, with 60% confidence

Level 3

Response to server winter weather – Severe weather actionSevere winter weather is now occurring; mean temperature of 2 C or less and/or widespread ice and heavy snow

Level 4

Major Incident – Emergency responseCentral government will declare a Level 4 alert in the event of severe or prolonged cold weather affecting sectors other than health

More about Excess Winter Deaths• In England and Wales an estimated 31,100 excess winter

deaths occurred in 2012-13 - a 29% increase on the previous winter.

• Cheshire West has one of the highest rates in the North West

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The Excess Winter mortality index In West Cheshire

Local Authority in North West

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North West

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• Figures for last year saw a steep increase, an extra 50 in CWAC

• Cold weather and flu largely explain the trends.

• “many of these winter deaths are preventable” (DOH, 2012)

Target population

Key findings in 2010/11, people were - more likely to be female - majority 75 years old and over - an increasing number of people under 75

years dying - Related medical conditions include respiratory

and circulatory diseases.

Effects of Winter on the body

• Cold temperatures can cause physiological effects such as:- thicker blood - increase in blood pressure - tightening of the airways

• making people who already have chronic conditions even more vulnerable.

• Excess winter deaths are linked to low temperatures but hypothermia is not the main cause.

• The majority of such deaths are due to heart disease, stroke and respiratory illness.

Effects of Winter on the Body continued…

• Older people are particularly at risk as they do not feel the cold until their body temperature falls.

• People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have a significantly increased risk of ill-health and hospitalisation during periods of cold weather, and high levels of circulating respiratory infections.

Health Impacts and Time

Mind and Spirit• Winter can feel a particularly lonely time.• Christmas and New Year may highlight that friends and family are not

around.• Winter may make it physically harder to catch up with people and

there may be feelings of isolation.

National Developments:• Silver Line 0800 4 70 80 90 – free 24hours confidential helpline

launched by Esther Ranzen (Nov 2013)• Winter Friends Pledge – “NHS to raise army of Good Samaritans for

winter” (Nov 2013) Aims have 100,000 people pledge to "take time out this winter to look in on an elderly friend or neighbour to make sure they are warm and coping well".

Key interventions to reduce EWDs– Keep warm– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qVm-x4WG9U– Uptake of flu and pneumococcal vaccinations – Maximise income– Provision of annual medicines review (MUR) and annual

medication review (every 6 months if taking 4 plus medicines)– Health interventions– Falls prevention– http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/Playgroundfortheover60s.as

px?searchtype=Tag&searchterm=Older+people&offset=17&– Volunteer/neighbour schemes and contingency plans– Assistive technology and cold weather alerts

Communications Plan

• “Get ready for winter” and “Act now for winter”

• Press releases and media packs• Choose Well this Winter NHS campaign• Community champions for key messages• Networks of local community organisers• Key messages for geographical areas

Winter Wellbeing MessagesGet Ready for Winter

• Get a flu jab (its free if you are over 65, have a long term condition, or are pregnant)

• Review how you use your medicines (service available at most pharmacies)

• Have your heating checked and serviced• Check if you are entitled to any help with

heating your home

Winter Wellbeing MessagesAct Now for Winter

• Keep your house warm (between 18 and 21 C)• Have hot meals and hot drinks throughout the

day• On cold days try and stay indoors when

possible• Tune in to local news and radio to check

weather conditions

Winter Wellbeing MessagesBe a good neighbour

• Keep an eye on older people during colder weather

• Offer a helping hand with shopping, collecting prescriptions, lifts, walking the dog etc.

• If clearing snow use grit or salt, never use water, and pile snow carefully.

5 Ways to WellbeingConnect with the people around you. Spending time with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours & others, can bring you support & enrich your day.

Be active Go for a walk. Stretch! Play a game. Garden. Do some dusting! Exercising makes you feel good and improves your fitness. http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/Swimminginyour90s.aspx?searchtype=Tag&searchterm=Older+people&offset=17&

Take notice of the world around you and of your own feelings. Be curious. Notice the beautiful. Enjoy the moment. Reflect on your experiences and decide what matters to you.

Keep learning Try something new! Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Explore the library for ideas. Learning new things will help you feel more confident as well as being fun.

Give Do something nice for a friend or someone you don’t know. Smile. Thank someone. Listen. Giving helps you to feel good & can help other people feel good too. See how you link with the wider community. www.talkingwestcheshire.org/5ways

Keeping well in west Cheshire

• Twelve month programme• Initial focus winter months• Key target older people over 55 years old

living in west Cheshire• Range of interventions throughout the year• Communications, community engagement,

home visits, and volunteer support

More information

• Snow Angels Portal– Brief training programmes– Referrals to other organisations for help– Advice and Information– Sign up for Met Office alerts– Calendar of events– http://keepingwell.snowangels.org.uk