Burnham slams Labour-Plaid inaction on excess winter deaths (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Burnham slams Labour-Plaid inaction on excess winter deaths

November 25, 2009 6:18 PM

Eleanor Burnham, Assembly Member for North Wales has branded the Labour-Plaid Government's inaction on fuel poverty an "utter disgrace". Speaking in the wake of new "excess winter deaths" figures released by the Office of National Statistics Eleanor, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Older People, said:

"These appalling new figures show that excess winter deaths for Wales in the period 2008/09 went up from 1440 to 2500 - a shocking increase of 70% on the previous year.

"The number of older people dying in Wales between the months of December and March has almost doubled. It is yet another shocking indictment of the Labour-Plaid government's failure to grasp the nettle.

"Age Concern and Help the Aged have called it a "national scandal" and I agree with them.

"Today in the Siambr I called on the Leader of the House to arrange an urgent debate on the increases in excess winter deaths. I'm sorry to say that he didn't even know about the new figures.

"This is a very serious issue to many people in Wales, including my own constituents across North Wales, and I expect the Labour-Plaid government to shoulder its responsibilities to the people who elected them".