Case Studies
June
Grandmother of four, seventy-two year old June Phillips from Barry, received assistance from npower Health Through Warmth resulting in loft and cavity wall insulation being installed in her home.
Mrs Phillips was recovering from her second knee replacement and was awaiting a hip replacement. She also suffers from bronchial asthma and has suffered from a heart attack in the past.
Her central heating system was in good order but a lack of insulation meant the house was very cold and made her living conditions uncomfortable which also adversely affected her health.
Mrs Phillips was referred to npower Health Through Warmth by Age Concern. She was put in touch with the Health Through Warmth co-ordinator in the Vale of Glamorgan who identified her as being eligible to receive a Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HESS+) grant to have the insulation measures installed.
Mrs Phillips said: “The house would get very cold as it couldn’t maintain the heat which was escaping through the walls and roof. The insulation has made a dramatic difference. I only need to keep the heating on for a couple of hours in the morning and the house remains warm throughout the day, which is fantastic.
“I’m not particularly mobile at the moment and can spend long periods sitting, so it’s made things much easier for me now that the house is nice and warm.”
Jessie
Two-year old Jessie lives with her parents, Lorraine and Geoff, and twin brother. Jessie has cystic fibrosis, resulting in regular hospital visits and a steady stream of intravenous and oral antibiotics. Her condition often leaves her susceptible to chest infections.
Recurring problems with the central heating boiler meant that the family was often without hot water. Jessie’s cystic fibrosis liaison nurse made the referral to Health Through Warmth as she was concerned that this was having an adverse affect on her health.
A full assessment confirmed that a new boiler was required and one was installed thanks to financial support from Barnardos and The Non-Ecclesiastical Charity of William Moulton and the Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.
"Without the help of Health Through Warmth we could still be in a situation where we have no hot water in the family home. We have to be extremely careful with Jessie's condition. It's vital that we keep her strong and in good health so that treatment is effective. Thanks to the help we've received from Health Through Warmth this is no longer an issue for us."
Luke & Josh
Luke had Tuberculosis when he was seven and both boys suffer from severe asthma. During one particular winter, the two children had 14 visits to hospital to treat their asthma. Their home was cold and damp.
The family, who live in a council property, were identified as eligible for assistance from Health Through Warmth and were given temporary heaters until the council installed central heating in November 2002. Loft and cavity wall insulation and draughtproofing were also installed thanks to funding from the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund. The family now look forward to better winters with fewer trips to hospital for the boy's respiratory problems.
Xander
The Tonkinson family live in a privately owned, three bedroom semi-detached house. Their youngest son, one-year-old Xander spent the first five months of his life in Birmingham Children's Hospital due to a cleft pallet and respiratory problems.
Xander's parents wanted to bring him home after he had been operated on. However, the hospital was unable to discharge him due to inadequate heating in the family home, which would have hindered Xander's recovery as living conditions were too cold.
Xander's community health nurse, Sue Clavey, had attended the training offered by Health Through Warmth and was able to refer this case to the scheme.
With only two gas fires in the property it was clear that central heating was required to create sufficient warmth for Xander to recover and live comfortably at home.
A central heating system was installed and paid for by contributions from The Rowland Hill Fund and the HTW Crisis Fund.
Sue Clavey said 'I am delighted that npower HTW was able to help the family and, thanks to the scheme, Xander's health has dramatically improved'.
Margaret
Margaret Stone, 79, lives in Leicester with her daughter and grandson. The central heating in the family home had a history of breaking down and it was eventually condemned.
Mrs Stone suffers from angina and osteoporosis, which was adversely affected by the cold temperatures in her home.
Mrs Stone’s daughter was worried about how living in a cold home was affecting her mother’s health so she decided to contact the local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) to see if there was any help available. The EEAC referred her to the npower Health Through Warmth scheme.
As a result, Mrs Stone had a new central heating system installed thanks to funding from the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund and the charity SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).
Mrs Stone said: “The Health Through Warmth scheme is fantastic, everything that could have been done was done. The house is constantly warm which helps me greatly, particularly in the cold winter months when my angina is at its worst.”
Kenneth
Seventy-two-year-old Kenneth Stone suffers from arthritis and lives with his wife Margaret in Quinton. The central heating in their home had a history of breaking down and it eventually stopped working all together. As well as arthritis, Mr Stone also suffers from bronchitis, and the cold temperatures in his home were having a detrimental affect on both conditions.
Mr Stone’s local Council Neighbourhood Office referred him to the npower Health Through Warmth scheme to see if he could receive any help replacing his boiler.
As a result, Mr Stone had a new boiler installed, paid for by a financial contribution from the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund which topped-up the funding he was able to provide himself.
Mr Stone said: “I’m extremely grateful for the help I have received from the npower Health Through Warmth scheme. When the old boiler was condemned it was very difficult for my wife and I. The new boiler has made a world of difference to my arthritis; the rooms heat up really quickly and the house is much more comfortable now it’s warm. I can’t thank you enough.
“The new boiler is really reliable and I now have the peace of mind that I can keep my home warm, particularly in the cold winter months when my arthritis is at its worst.”
