Health

Colds and flu

The flu vaccine can prevent you from catching flu - so if you are over 65, are pregnant, or have a long term condition that means you’re entitled to a free NHS flu vaccine, then it’s worth making sure you take this up through your GP surgery or some local pharmacies.

Colds and flu share some of the same symptoms (cough, sore throat), but are caused by different viruses. Flu can be much more serious than a cold.

Find out more on the NHS Stay Well This Winter campaign website

Home Energy Checklist

The information on the webpage Your Home Energy Checklist will help guide you through financial help available and practical steps you can take to help keep your home feeling warmer this winter.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.

Find out more information on the GOV.UK Warm Home Discount Scheme web page

Energy Bills rebate - Energy Bills Support Scheme discount

DWP is not planning to make any more Cost of Living Payments.

Find out about help you can get with the cost of living.

Household Support Fund

You can find out more on the Household Support Fund page. 

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible.

If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get.

Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025.

Find out more on the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment web page.

You can also read the Gov.uk Easy read: An introduction to winter fuel Payment leaflet

Cold weather payment

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under 5 comes to live with you.

The payments do not affect your other benefits.

You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.

You can find more details on the GOV.UK Cold Weather Payment webpage.

You can also look at the Gov.UK leaflet Easy read: An introduction to cold weather Payments

The Priority Services Register

Many suppliers will give vulnerable customers advanced notice of planned power cuts and offer priority support during emergencies. Some may be able to provide cooking facilities, hot meals or charge points to households that rely on medical equipment.

Suppliers must take all reasonable steps to avoid disconnecting you during the winter months (1 October – 31 March). Suppliers that have signed up to Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment cannot knowingly disconnect a vulnerable customer at any time of the year

You can also join the register of your energy network operator. This is the company that provides the pipes and cables that bring energy from your supplier to your home.

What is a vulnerable customer?

Ofgem – the energy regulator has information on their Join your supplier’s Priority Services Register web page.

This includes disabled households and those young children, and households that use medical equipment that requires a power supply.

How do I register?

Contact your energy supplier and ask them to put you on their Priority Services Register.

You can also contact your local electricity network operator to ensure you are also on their register. Find out who that is.

National Energy Action's Warm and Safe Home Advice Service

The NEA’s WASH Advice Service is a free support service providing advice to householders on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home.

The service offers tailored face to face, telephone or online advice and support with:

• Warm Home Discount and Trust fund applications
• Support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt
• Switching suppliers
• Energy efficiency
• Benefits advice and income maximisation

You can speak to an adviser directly by calling 0800 304 7159

Details can be viewed on the council's Local Energy Advice Partnership web page.

Provided by Medequip and commissioned by the council, Manage At Home offers information and advice, along with a range of equipment and devices that you can purchase to help with everyday tasks.  

The Manage at Home Self Help Guide will help you find products which can provide you with solutions to problems you select relating to different areas of the home or more general issues. You don’t need to log in, give any personal details or register to complete the questionnaire. You can see the products recommended, how they work, and see videos of them in action.

Manage at Home also offers occupational therapy home visits and equipment demonstrations on selected products such as riser recliner chairs.

To speak to someone about these services, call 0800 910 1864 or email info@manageathome.co.uk

Anglian Water can help you when you need it most.

If you are struggling to afford your bill, Anglian Water’s specially-trained Extra Care Support Team can help find a way forward, with a personalised plan to find the cheapest tariff or a flexible payment plan made just for you.

Call on 0800 232 1951

You can also find more information in their Extra Care Support leaflet.

The winter months can be challenging for both you and the NHS.

The following information will help you understand the actions you can take to stay healthy and manage your own health to help reduce the pressure on the NHS.

To help you understand what actions you can take to prepare for winter and to get the right help at the right time, click on the NHS campaigns below.

Get your flu vaccination

Prepare for Winter and get vaccinated against the flu virus. Flu vaccination is available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. However for certain groups, flu can be more severe, and therefore be eligible for the free flu jab.

You are eligible for the free flu vaccine if you are pregnant, are aged 65 years or over, have a long-term health condition (check which conditions are eligible), or are a carer. Children aged two or three years are also eligible.

Ring NHS 111 if you have an urgent medical condition

Contact your local GP surgery, local pharmacy or midwifery service for your free NHS flu vaccine to help protect you against the risk of flu and its complications.

Do you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical concern? Not sure what to do? Ring NHS 111 to find out what to do and where to go.

NHS 111 (online or by phone) will direct you to the most appropriate local service. This is particularly

important when your pharmacy is closed to ensure that you get the support you need 24 hours a day.

Don't wait for our symptoms to get worse, ask your Pharmacy team first

Seek advice from a local pharmacist to prepare for winter. If you start to feel unwell, even if it's a cough or a cold, don't wait until it gets more serious. Seek advice from your pharmacist. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals with the clinical know how to give you the help you need, whether it’s over the counter medicines, a few days rest or a bit of reassurance. Better still all this can be done without the need of an appointment.

Most people live within easy reach of a pharmacy, and with many now offering longer opening hours, it’s easier to get the help and advice you need, without booking an appointment.

No one should have to face going hungry. That’s why Foodbanks provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis.

If you are reaching crisis point or in a crisis, please contact your local Foodbank:

Peterborough Foodbank