Ministers back call for action to tackle loneliness

The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is among the frontbench politicians who is backing our bid for all local authorities in the region to write loneliness into their health and wellbeing strategies.

His sentiments are echoed by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Shadow Health Secretary who also support our rallying cry for more people to play a hands-on role in their own communities by volunteering to support projects that reach out to lonely older people.

Conservative MP, Mr Hunt told the Yorkshire Post that he was saddened by the sheer scale of the hidden epidemic: “It is a sobering thought that there are nearly a million people in England today who are lonely.

“In our busy lives we too easily forget the thousands of older people who often go for days without seeing or speaking to anyone, or who rely on the television for company. I congratulate the Yorkshire Post on this campaign to encourage people to give up their time in order to make someone else’s life better.”

Some 91,300 people aged over 65 who live alone across the region admit to feeling lonely all of the time of often. The issue must not be taken lightly as research suggests the health consequences are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, Nick Clegg said everyone should play their part in tackling loneliness in their local area: “I think we should all encourage each other to think about ways we can get involved in our communities and give a little bit of time to help each other out.

“There are many older people who can’t always get out much and who might not have family and friends who live close by. I’m sure they would really welcome someone taking the time to visit them for a cup of a tea or help them get out and about to a social event.”

He agreed that local authorities must set the agenda for communities to follow, saying: “Councils have an important role to play in coordinating and spearheading this kind of support and the Coalition Government are doing our bit by putting people’s wellbeing at the heart of our Care Bill.

“I want to pay tribute to the Yorkshire Post for launching this campaign on such an important subject.”

The Yorkshire Post has teamed up with the Campaign to End Loneliness to highlight why the issue has to be a universal health priority across the region and the charities supporting that message are keen to point out that those who suffer from loneliness are not just those older people who live alone.

Loneliness also affects couples where one dedicates their time to caring for a partner with serious health problems such as dementia. In cases like this it is easy for the carer to suffer in silence.

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said too little support is extended to meeting the needs of carers.

“For too long, carers have been invisible to our health and care system and taken for granted. They need more support if they are to help older people get more out of life and overcome the risk of loneliness.

“But there is a real danger that things will get harder for carers in the years ahead. Brutal cuts to council social care budgets are taking away support and leaving people paying spiralling care charges. Whistle-stop 15-minute care visits are not good enough.

“We need a bolder response to meet the challenges of our ageing population: a genuinely integrated NHS and social care system which properly supports older and disabled people in their own community. We will never get the standards of care we want whilst social care remains a malnourished, minimum-wage business.”

Readers are invited to back our campaign by downloading a letter to sign and send to their local health and wellbeing board to call for loneliness and isolation to be written into their strategies.

Tell us why you are backing the campaign by emailing [email protected]

• Special report: Loneliness - The Hidden Epidemic

• Download a copy of a letter to print or email and send to your local Health and Wellbeing Board