GPs are now prescribing heating to patients with medical conditions that become worse in the cold in some areas of the UK, Manchester Evening News reports.
It marks the beginning of the Warm Home Prescription pilot which aims to cover the cost of heating for low-income patients who suffer from such conditions.
According to the BBC, 28 low-income patients have benefited from the trial scheme so far which will soon be offered to more than 1,000 homes in Teesside, Aberdeenshire and in the NHS Gloucestershire area.
Mum-of-two Michelle Davis who suffers from severe pulmonary illness and arthritis was one of the patients who took part in the trial.
She said: "When the weather turns cold, I tend to seize up. It's very painful, my joints ache and my bones are like hot pokers."
Speaking about how the trial has positively impacted her, she continued: "You're not stuck in bed, you're not going to hospital, my children were able to have a life, they were able to go out and play and get cold.
"I was able to be a mum, and my kids could be kids, not just carers."
The scheme has been organised by Energy Systems Catapult and energy charity Severn Wye.
To find out who could benefit from the scheme, NHS social prescribers will be visiting homes.
Dr Matt Lipson, who helped create the trial, shared: "If we buy the energy people need but can't afford, they can keep warm at home and stay out of hospital.
"That would target support to where it's needed, save money overall and take pressure off the health service."
Dr Hein La Roux's, whose surgery took part in the trial, said: "It's actually saved a lot of money for other services and also saved our workload."
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