As the UK approaches the definitive days in the general election, several thought leaders are offering their insight into how the next parliament must act.
From £38bn funding deficits to ensuring workforce sustainability, the health sector has a whole host of plans, priorities and parlays to build the NHS of the future.
To mark last week’s Clean Air Day however, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) urged the UK Government to take drastic measures to improve the air quality in the country.
The CIEH’s manifesto called on policymakers to:
- introduce ambitious air quality targets in line with the World Health Organisation;
- deliver a strategic approach to tackle air quality; and
- launch a holistic framework for resourcing local authorities.
“On Clean Air Day and in the run up to General Election, CIEH urge the UK Government to recognise the critical role environmental health professionals play within local authorities to tackle air pollution,” said Louise Hosking, the executive director of environmental health at CIEH.
“Our members work at the front line of safeguarding the UK's air quality and it’s necessary that any scaled ambitions from national government is met with additional capacity and resources for local authorities to tackle this urgent issue.”
An online conference hosted by National Health Executive earlier this year tackled the issue of net zero, with a technological, estates, and fleet lens applied.
This comes as the NHS continues to march towards the ultimate 2040 and 2045 targets set out in the landmark Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service report.
Actions have most recently included the groundbreaking initiative in London being spearheaded by the city’s major, Sadiq Khan, and NHS England.
They have launched the first healthcare-targeted air pollution alerts, so professionals in general practice and emergency departments can better educate patients about the public health concern of air pollution.
University College London researchers estimated last year that more than 48,000 adults die prematurely each year due to air pollution. The sustainability leads at University College London Hospitals recently penned an exclusive account of how they are responding to the climate crisis in our digital magazine.
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