Public welcome at November Board Meeting

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust will hold its next Board Meeting, on Wednesday, 1 November 2017, at 10am. The meeting will be held in the Clinical Education Centre at Southport and Formby District General Hospital. Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the meeting. Anyone with a special requirement should contact the Trust in advance on:- 01704 704783. The agenda will be available on the Trust website in advance of the meeting. Supporting papers will be made available on the day.

Consumers in the North West  turn to jumpers and hot water bottles as they worry about high energy bills

CONSUMERS in the North West are worried their energy bills will go up this year and as a result are reaching for extra layers, blankets and hot water bottles instead of turning on their central heating.  The Winter Warming Report from TopCashback.co.uk, the UK's most generous cashback and comparison website, finds 67% of consumers in the North West  are anxious about increases to energy prices effecting their heating bills and fear they will be paying more in 2017.

49% of people in the North West  are planning to switch energy suppliers in the hope to bring down costs yet 71% of people are considering not turning their heating on all together, instead looking to cheaper alternatives to avoid high heating bills.

Over the course of winter, consumers in the North West  spend ₤70 stocking up on alternative warmers including jumpers (82%), blankets (63%), hot water bottles (29%) and draft excluders (15%). The majority (85%) of people also switch to hotter and more comforting foods in the evenings, increasing their grocery bills by ₤22 a month.

The report also finds consumers are finding it harder to fight the cold weather with the number of people claiming to turn their heating on between September and the end of November increasing from 88% in previous years to 90%. However, instead of having the heating on throughout the colder months or using a daily timer, 42% are turning their heating on only when it is needed to take the bite out of the air.

Natasha Rachel Smith, Consumer Affairs Editor for TopCashback.co.uk, said:- "With energy prices rising at the fastest rate since 2014, it is having a real effect on consumers in the North West  who are worrying about their heating bills going up. Our report shows people are concerned as to whether they can afford to heat their homes this winter and are desperate to find ways to avoid turning on their heating at all.  Switching energy providers can make a big difference, yet only half of consumers are planning to switch this year. It's inevitable heating will be needed meaning everyone should be looking for the best deals. TopCashback provides a comparison services that lets consumers work out the best deal for them while earning cashback on top. Members can currently get ₤140 cashback when switching to npower."

► Family disagreements...

Discussions about whether to turn the heating on or not are also causing arguments across households in the North West  with 51% quarrelling with their loved ones. People in the North West  are the most likely to argue about the heating.  People in the North West  most commonly argue with their partners (74%), parents (19%) and children (16%). Those who disagree with turning on the heating suggest putting on extra layers (94%), having a hot drink (34%) and even going for a jog around the house (6%) as alternative ways to warm up.

► Regional heat mapping...

The report finds consumers in Wales are the most concerned about their energy bills going up while people in the North West  switch their energy providers the most. People living in Yorkshire and the Humber also reach for winter warmers instead of central heating more than any other region. However, those living in the south-west spend ₤141 on items to warm them up in winter, which is the most in the UK compared to people in the east who spend just ₤65.