By Christopher Evans - 26th October 2011
Christopher Evans MP warns that cancer patients are poorly served by current government schemes to reduce fuel poverty.
Anyone who has had the heartbreaking news that they have been diagnosed with cancer or knows someone who has does not need to be told how hard their life is going to be.
Faced with months of treatment, heartache and worry - the last thing that a cancer patient should be concerned about is whether or not they can pay their energy bills.
Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to plummeting temperatures and rocketing fuel bills. Many will be faced with fuel poverty because they often have increased energy needs at a time when their income has dropped dramatically.
During treatment 70 per cent of cancer patients under the age of 55 lose on average 50 per cent of their household income. That is why fuel poverty disproportionately affects those with cancer, with 1 in 4 cancer sufferers also suffering from fuel poverty.
Despite evidence that living in fuel poverty has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of people with cancer, 1 in 5 cancer patients turn off their heating during winter because they are concerned about their bills.
Currently, cancer patients are poorly served by the current government schemes to reduce fuel poverty. Many rely on additional sources of financial help to pay high gas bills and risk falling into debt as a result.
Previous measures to help vulnerable groups with fuel bills, such as the winter fuel payment, have become victims of government cuts and the financial crisis. Significant price rises by energy companies only serve to exacerbate the problem.
The English Housing Survey, currently used by the government to calculate fuel poverty figures in England, does not include questions relating to a person's cancer diagnosis despite including questions about other disabilities.
This means that the government does not know how many cancer patients are living in fuel poverty. The government must start collecting this data if it is to successfully target resources at those most in need.
In the long term, energy efficiency interventions have a vital role to play in the fight against fuel poverty but with so many cancer patients losing substantial income during their treatment, it is essential the government should review the Winter Fuel Allowance as a matter of urgency and better target it to reach those most in need.
To me it is a scandal that anyone should live in fuel poverty in the 21st century. That is why the government has a duty to act to help cancer patients and their families when they face an uncertain future.
Christopher Evans has been Labour/Co-op MP for Islwyn since 2010.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.