Carlisle is the most northerly city in England, and the ... - NHS Cumbria

Figure 25: Rented AccommodationRented Accommodation31%69%Social RentedPrivate Rented12% of households in Carlisle have no central heating. This compares to 8% for England.While 4% of Carlisle households are classed as being overcrowded compared to 7% inEngland.14. Homelessness.On 31 st March 2005 there were 285 households in Carlisle which were defined as eligible,unintentionally homeless and in priority need, for which the Local Authority acceptsresponsibility for securing accommodation (ODPM 2005). This represents 9.3% of the totalhouseholds on the Carlisle Housing Register.15. Excess Winter Deaths.Mortality in England and Wales increases more than other European countries with colderclimates. Studies find that regions with warm winters such as England have cooler homes andtake fewer protective measures against the cold. The number of extra deaths occurring in wintervaries depending upon the temperature and level of disease (particularly ‘flu) in the populationas well as other factors. The elderly (age 75+) experience the greatest increase in deaths eachwinter.Excess winter deaths are defined as the difference between the number of deaths during thefour winter months (December – March) and the average number of deaths during thepreceding autumn (August – November) and the following summer (April – July). In Carlisleduring 2005 / 06 there were a total of 60 excess winter deaths. This gives an excess winterdeaths index of 17%. This compares to Cumbria as a whole where the excess winter deathsindex for 2005 / 06 was 14%.16. Deaths From Suicide.The Government’s White Paper “Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation” (1999) set a target toreduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010.The likelihood of a person committing suicide is related to a number of factors. These includephysically disabling or painful illnesses, mental illness, alcohol and drug misuse and level ofsupport. Stressful life events such as the loss of a job, imprisonment, a death or divorce canalso play a part. For many people it is a combination of factors which is important, rather than asingle factor.Official suicides are those in which the coroner or official recorder has decided that there isclear evidence that the injury was self-inflicted and the deceased intended to take their own life.Open verdicts or undetermined injury are those where there may be doubt about theFiona Huntington 27 of 47