Español
Recently a group of UK scientists wrote to the PM asking him to ensure politicians follow the science on Air Quality. We followed that up with a letter from more than 200 of you. Read the article in the Clean Air Day edition of the Standard below. That letter is now open for more signatures in the form below so please sign if you work in Healthcare in the UK and share with your colleagues.
Letter to PM in Evening Standard article by Noah Vickers
ReadBBC Article : Health workers urge PM to take action on toxic air
ReadLondon GP backs the ULEZ
WatchThe Health Letter.
Feel free to copy and paste this into a letter to your local MP or council. For a ready made press release you can use go here
Dear Prime Minister
We agree with Prof. Frank Kelly and his colleagues that the research undertaken by UK scientists on the issue of toxic air is world-leading. The scientists have given us disturbing evidence, but we as health care providers are left on the front line with the heartbreaking impacts. We deal with children struggling to breathe, parents grieving lost babies, adults suffering from cancer, heart attacks, stroke and dementia. All made more common by the toxic air we breathe.
We were directed by your Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, to ensure that "the training of healthcare staff should include the health effects of air pollution and how to minimise these, including communication with patients". We see our role as translating the scientific evidence honestly into meaningful actions our patients can take to protect themselves and their families.
Sadly there are very few effective actions that our patients can take to reduce their personal exposure. Much more powerful are the interventions that only coordinated action from national, regional and local governments can achieve. These include providing environments where our patients can travel safely on foot and by bike, Ultra Low Emission and Clean Air Zones as in London, Newcastle and other cities, local traffic control solutions such as school streets, and effective regulation of wood burning in urban areas. The science shows that this clears the air, reduces hospitalization and make our frontline work easier. It is deeply worrying that some politicians have chosen to deny the science and promote delay and disinformation. We call on you to set an example to your peers.
Making it safe for young children to travel to school on foot or bike brings enormous mental and physical health benefits as does cycling to work along safe and unpolluted routes while experiencing the smell, sight and sounds of nature.
We urge you and your colleagues to promote a better, cleaner future for the UK. We ask you to work with us and our scientific colleagues in making the case for urgent action on air pollution. As your Chief Medical Officer said: "Air pollution is an environmental risk to health that can, and should, be solved systematically." Please listen.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mark Hayden, Paediatrician, London, RFTL
Dr Heather Lambert, Paediatrician, Newcastle, RFTL
To see the full list of signatories on the letter submitted to the PM on clean air day go here.
If you wish to sign this letter please complete the form below. We will not include your email but request it so we can verify your signature if required. You are signing as a healthcare provider not representing any organisation but if you are concerned please contact your organisations media team first. If you are concerned about your name appearing on this letter but want to take action why not write directly to your own MP or local government representative. Also consider signing the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty and the Healthy Planet Prescription on the Action hub.
Leading scientists write to PM amid campaign against expansion of clean air zone in London. The Guardian
Read
