toll of around 30,000, it emerged yesterday.Around 2,000 more deaths than normal were recorded in the first two weeks of March and last month 3,057 extra deaths were registered in England and Wales.
The Office for National Statistics said this could be due to the “prolonged period of cold weather”. The National Federation of Occupational Pensioners said deaths among its members had more than quadrupled since the end of last year.
Chief executive Malcolm Booth said almost 500 of its members died last month, double the January figure.
He said: “At the rate we are going, and if this extreme cold continues we could be looking at 30,000 deaths.” Age UK said extreme cold weather can increase the risk of serious illness in elderly people.
For every one degree drop in average temperature, there are around 8,000 extra deaths
Michelle Mitchell, AGE UK director general
Director general Michelle Mitchell said: “Colder, harsher winters tend to lead to an increase in life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks and strokes which in turn leads to a high rate of excess winter deaths.
“For every one degree drop in average temperature, there are around 8,000 extra deaths.”
