Following Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap for consumers will rise by 80 per cent, frontline doctors have warned that hospitals will be facing a surge of extra patient.
Dr Matthew Lee, sustainability lead at DAUK, said to i News: “Hospitals and Trusts will be bracing themselves alongside the majority of British people who are facing a fuel and cost of living crisis. The impact will be felt hardest by the already burnt-out staff working in an already broken system.
“With members of the public likely self-rationing their energy use, we will face an increase in hospital admissions due to chest infections from cold, damp housing, severe life-threatening hypothermia, and cold-related accidents from more destructive weather events due to climate change.
“There are clear solutions to this crisis that have sadly been ignored for over a decade. Many hospital buildings are outdated and have not had energy efficiency upgrades. Installing insulation, triple glazed windows and solar panels are all quick and cost-effective ways of massively reducing the running costs of hospitals and homes. We need to urgently act on a national scale to prevent further energy crises, cut our carbon emissions, and ultimately save lives.”
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