Local health and social care responses to implementing the national cold weather plan

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  • Catherine Heffernan
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Lorelei Jones
    University College London
  • Benjamin Ritchie
    University College London
  • Bob Erens
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Zaid Chalabi
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • N. Mays
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Background: The Cold Weather Plan (CWP) for England was launched by the Department of Health in 2011 to prevent avoidable harm to health by cold weather by enabling individuals to prepare and respond appropriately. This study sought the views of local decision makers involved in the implementation of the CWP in the winter of 2012/13 to establish the effects of the CWP on local planning. It was part of a multi-component independent evaluation of the CWP.

Methods: Ten LA areas were purposively sampled which varied in level of deprivation and urbanism. Fifty-two semi-structured interviews were held with health and social care managers involved in local planning between November 2012 and May 2013.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed that the CWP was considered a useful framework to formalize working arrangements between agencies though local leadership varied across localities. There were difficulties in engaging general practitioners, differences in defining vulnerable individuals and a lack of performance monitoring mechanisms.

Conclusions: The CWP was welcomed by local health and social care managers, and improved proactive winter preparedness. Areas for improvement include better integration with general practice, and targeting resources at socially isolated individuals in cold homes with specific interventions aimed at reducing social isolation and building community resilience.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)461-466
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Public Health
Volume40
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2018
Externally publishedYes

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