Death toll rises in UK for poor people freezing to death, coincides with higher energy prices and higher profits for energy companies

2/13/12, "Frozen to death as fuel bills soar: Hypothermia cases among the elderly double in five years," UK Daily Mail, Martin and Clayton

"1,876 patients treated for hypothermia in 2010/11, Hypothermia death toll within 30 days up from 135 to 260, Coincides with a surge in energy prices, Industry analyst estimates 8 out of 10 households ration energy use, Age UK says a quarter of all pensioners live in fuel poverty

"The number of pensioners dying from hypothermia has nearly doubled in five years, a period when a succession of cold winters has been coupled with drastic rises in energy bills.

The official figures emerged after several days of Arctic conditions which drove temperatures across the whole country as low as minus 10C (14F).

They showed that 1,876 patients were treated in hospital for hypothermia in 2010/11, up from 950 in 2006/07.

The number of sufferers who died within 30 days of admission shot up from 135 to 260....

Soaring energy bills are pushing more and more pensioners into fuel poverty, forcing them to choose between heating and eating. One industry analyst, uSwitch, estimates that eight in ten households are already rationing their energy use and have called for a cut in VAT on power bills.

The row over energy prices is poised to be reignited later this month when the 'big six' energy companies reveal their latest profit figures."...via Tom Nelson

2011 profits from big energy companies in Europe, from UK Daily Mail

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