Impact of Fuel Poverty on the Health of Citizens and General Practice

That the Parliament recognises what it considers the direct connection between tackling fuel poverty, improving public health, and lessening the demand on general practice and cost to the wider NHS; agrees that the winter period ahead stands to be very challenging for many, but believes that it could be devastating for those in fuel poverty; acknowledges reports from GP members of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Scotland who, it understands, are already working to levels of demand and under staffing pressures never before experienced; understands that cold homes can impact on asthma, respiratory infections, hypertension, mental health, dementia, heart attack and stroke risk, and childhood development; welcomes what it considers as the robust reports on this from the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society, the Faculty for Public Health, the Institute for Health Equity, and the Health Foundation; recognises findings from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2019 that show that north east Scotland has areas of above-average fuel poverty rates, including Dundee City and Perth and Kinross, as well as areas with more households with a low energy efficiency rating, such as Angus; notes with interest the research that found that for each 1°C drop below 5°C external temperature, presentations to general practice increase by up to 19%, and recognises the call from RCGP Scotland to seize the health co-benefits of tackling fuel poverty with a more holistic approach.