Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of cold weather on people living with sickle cell disease; and whether his Department is taking steps to help support people with sickle cell disease during winter 2022.

We are working across Government and with external partners to identify those most vulnerable to the health impacts of the increased cost of living and any further action which can be taken in winter 2022/23 to support them.

We recognise that people are worried about the rising cost of living, and that will be particularly felt by those with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease. The Government announced a £37 billion package of cost of living support to help households and businesses, including a £15 billion targeted package of direct support for the most vulnerable households. People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to further help with the extra costs.

This winter we are spending £55 billion to help households and businesses with their energy bills, amongst the largest support plans in Europe. A typical household will save around £900 this winter through the price guarantee in addition to the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme.

We are also spending £9.3 billion over the next five years on energy efficiency and clean heat, making homes easier and cheaper to heat. We will spend £26 billion in total on cost of living support next year, including the £900 cost of living payment for eight million poorer households.

There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to cold or wind increases hospital attendance with acute pain, not only for Sickle Cell patients. However, there is no scientific evidence that examines the effect of ambient room temperatures and rates of vaso-occlusion.