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Reuters
LONDON — The UK faces a “humanitarian crisis” this winter, with soaring energy prices forcing low-income households to make difficult choices that can lead to serious physical and mental illness. There is, a medical lobby group said on Friday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resisted calls to provide more support to households struggling with rising bills, and his government announced a major fiscal decision in early September. He insists that he will leave it to the next prime minister who will take office in .
"The country is facing a humanitarian crisis," said Matthew Taylor, chief executive of his NHS Confederation, which represents organizations across the health care sector. .
"Many people can face a terrible choice between skipping meals to heat their homes or having to live in a cold, damp, and very uncomfortable environment.
The situation is causing outbreaks of respiratory and mental illness, exacerbating the life chances of children, and impacting the already expanding state-owned National Health Service. It could put pressure on the service (NHS), he added.
A UK Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the government was already helping households through a £37 billion ($44 billion) cost of living assistance package announced in May, and that the NHS capacity was growing.
The UK average annual household energy bill, which covers both gas and electricity, will further double to £4,000 by January. $4,766), further exacerbating inflation that was already over 10% in July.
In the face of mounting pressure, the Johnson government announced last week that it was working on a cost-of-living assistance package for the incoming prime minister to consider, while opposition Labor called parliament to freeze the energy bill. I want to summon.
The NHS Confederation feared that without further government support, 'fuel poverty' related to cold homes, currently estimated at about 10,000 people a year, would cause more deaths. said that ($1 = £0.8396) (Reported by Sachin Ravikumar)
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