ECO4 Route 3 : Medical Referrals

If a person living in a household is suffering from a severe or even long-term health condition, which is made worse by living in a cold home, are eligible via ECO4 Route 3.

The person’s condition must be due to:

• Cardiovascular conditions
• Respiratory disease
• Limited mobility
• Immunosuppression

The local authority must provide a declaration certifying that it has received a referral from one of the following:

• A person who is registered in the General Practitioner (GP) Register
• A Scottish Health Board
• A Welsh Health Board
• An NHS Foundation Trust
• An NHS Trust

Evidence #

To evidence a referral for ECO4 Route 3, a declaration must be provided by a relevant healthcare provider that states someone with a health condition is suffering in a cold home.

A healthcare provider can be the following:

• A person listed in the General Practitioner Register: This will include any GP that is employed within the NHS or a private practice.

• An employee of an NHS Trust or NHS Foundation Trust: A practitioner working within a hospital or clinic owned by an NHS Trust or NHS Foundation Trust

• An employee of an NHS Health Board

A GBIS and ECO4 Flex NHS Referral Letter Template can be found here on the Ofgem Website. Health providers can use their letter templates if they choose.

This declaration can be provided in the form of an email shared directly from a valid NHS email address by the relevant healthcare provider.

A letter is printed on a headed paper, indicating the practice, clinic or hospital making the referral and authenticated with a GP surgery stamp when relevant.

The declaration must state that the relevant healthcare provider signing the letter considers someone in the household to be suffering from one of the four health conditions listed above and that the health of the person is being impacted by a cold home.