The NHS 10-year Health Plan presents much hope and opportunity for people trying to address fuel poverty and improve people’s homes, Dr Rose Chard, Senior Advisor Fair Futures, at Energy Systems Catapult, comments.

The energy sector has long struggled to identify and reach the most vulnerable households. Over the past decade, policies have become more targeted, but often still miss those in greatest need. Until 2022, no more than 30% of English fuel poverty policy support reached fuel-poor households (Committee on Fuel Poverty). This was partly due to a desire to reduce administrative burden and the risk of excluding eligible households.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) was designed to reach more health-vulnerable households, particularly through ECO Flex and the health criteria under the Help to Heat Group. While this route exists, it faces challenges: health professionals often lack time to refer patients and provide necessary evidence; many households are unaware they qualify (Citizens Advice, 2025); and local authorities face time and capacity pressures to complete their role in the process.

The recently published NHS 10-Year Plan (July 2025) offers new cause for optimism. Focused on three major shifts, hospital to community, analogue to digital, and treatment to prevention, it also outlines five key operational changes. Notably, for the first time, it explicitly mentions fuel poverty and cross-departmental collaboration. It commits the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to work with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to “help ensure more health-vulnerable households get the help they need to improve their homes.”

This is a big step forward. The previous NHS long-term plan made no mention of fuel poverty or working with DESNZ. If we were hoping for a government mandate for collaboration between the NHS and energy sector, this is it. This is good news for the energy sector for two main reasons.

Data sharing:

First, it could improve access to health-related data for energy services. Identifying health-vulnerable households has always been difficult due to siloed data across health services. The Catapult’s 2022 trial of Warm Home Prescription successfully used NHS data, at both a trust level and a primary care trust level, to identify and deliver support to health-vulnerable households. However the Catapult’s recent trial working with ECO4  found, it’s challenging to consolidate and use this information effectively to deliver support through ECO4. The DESNZ 2025 Fuel Poverty Strategy Review also emphasised the need to break down health data-sharing barriers to improve referrals from trusted professionals.

Social prescribing:

Second, social prescribing has already shown success in improving energy efficiency and health outcomes, as demonstrated by the Catapult’s Warm Home Prescription trial (2022–2024). This model lays the groundwork for the Neighbourhood Health and Care Centres promoted in the 10-Year Plan. In regions with robust social prescribing, there have been measurable improvements in health inequalities. Given that up to 50% of health outcomes are shaped by social, economic, and environmental factors, addressing cold homes is essential.

The challenge now is implementation. Scheme names and funding models may change, but the goal remains the same: enabling households to stay warm, well, and out of hospital, this winter and for years to come.

Those who’ve long been working to link energy and health systems are well-positioned to bring their experience and insight to this next phase. The evidence is clear: integrated approaches work. In New Zealand, one initiative recovered its costs within a year. In the UK, every £1 invested yielded a £5 return. Upgrading all homes to EPC C could prevent 6,000 excess winter deaths annually and save the NHS £2 billion.

With a mandate now in place, the task ahead is delivery. At the Catapult, we’re building a coalition to consolidate learning and design practical, evidence-based policy. If you’d like to contribute to this work, please register your interest here: https://tinyurl.com/retrofitpolicyresearch