Dr Amir Khan has shared the main health issues to look for amid the energy price hike.
Ofgem are preparing to announce a new price cap on energy bills, which will take effect in April. It is believed that the hike could be around £630 as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans a press conference to announce support for those families struggling financially.
And now Dr Khan has spoken out on ITV's Lorraine this morning, as he fears it will have a devastating effect on people's health. As a doctor, he said he knows he will see the effects on patients attending his GP practice.
"This is all coming at the same time as a national insurance hike for lots of people even for those with low wages, so people will be making difficult decisions between heating their homes, feeding their families, being able to pay for their prescriptions - it all has an impact on their health," he said as he discussed the upcoming news.
"It has a really devastating impact on their health. The first thing - if you can't afford to heat your home, it actually causes an increased risk of developing heart attacks and strokes because your blood vessels contract to conserve heat, which pushes your blood pressure up, and over time that has an impact on your heart attack risk."
He also explained how living in damp conditions can cause more issues with chest infections and breathing. Dr Khan then went on to explain how the energy price hike could have an affect on people's mental health.
"If you're sleeping in a bedroom that is less than 15 degrees Celsius, which most are at this time of year if people can't afford to put the heating on, then your risk of developing mental health issues goes up four times," he said.
He shared how it can also affect children too, as people struggle to choose whether to feed their family or put the heating on.
Dr Khan said: "We all have to, as a society, really stand up for the most vulnerable people, who have already been hit hard by the Covid pandemic. It's really serious."
Lorraine then said: "We should be doing better than this, there should be plans in place."
