Ride for their lives

Sign this open letter to the UK Prime minister from Ride For Their Lives

We invite you to sign this open letter to the PM. The letter is open to all who agree with it but we ask you to identify if you are a Health Care Worker and are from the UK in the form below. Your email address will not be published.

Dear Prime Minister,

We congratulate you on your 50th day in power, leading a government which places high value on health. We are Ride For Their Lives, an international collective of healthcare workers cycling together to inspire action on air pollution and climate change. We write to invite you and your ministers to collaborate with us to put the health of the people of this country before party.

We are pleased that the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has emphasised the importance of policy to focus on the prevention of ill health. While many of us work in costly, highly specialised services, we recognise the huge benefits to people and to the economy of prevention. We also recognise that preventing ill health is a highly effective and efficient method to address inequality, another of your Government’s stated priorities. We thus invite you and your mission boards to explore the substantial financial and health benefits that rapidly improving the UK’s air quality will bring.

In 2021 the Coroner’s report on the role of air pollution in the death, from asthma, of 9 year old Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi Debrah, criticised not just central and local government departments but also the medical profession. Whilst this was a wake-up call to many of us regarding our lack of candour about the health damage from air pollution, we now recognise that its impact is much wider than respiratory illness alone. Current scientific literature attributes an alarming proportion of illnesses to dirty air. Please consider 3 examples.

Maternal exposure to air pollution, which crosses the placenta, is now recognised to reduce fertility, harm fetal lungs, increase miscarriages, and result in smaller and more premature babies. Such children, who often come from disadvantaged areas, may need life-long support.
The most recent assessment of the contribution of air pollution to death from type 2 diabetes is 9% in the UK. Other strategies to address diabetes such as diet and medication, while vital, are unlikely to be as amenable to policy intervention or as cost effective.
As we age, we all fear neurological decline. The role of air pollution in strokes and dementia is now well established. The enormous challenges and costs to care for people permanently damaged by this preventable harm can be mitigated by policy that reduces air pollution.

We believe that a genuine and sustained effort by your government, working with the devolved nations and metro mayors, to clear the air we breath, can not only improve the health of the nation but do so with budgetary responsibility. Many of the bills you have already set out on planning and infrastructure, energy and public transport have a role to play.

There is no safe level of air pollution and the health benefits continue for reductions even below the WHO 2021 targets. We invite you to explore the excellent 2022 Chief Medical Officer for England report by Professor Chris Witty on the opportunities and science based interventions. Perhaps the new Minister of State for Science might work well with him to implement these recommendations, as they did in the recent past to protect our health.

Cost-effective quick wins include action on solid fuel burning in homes where there are reasonable alternatives and a genuine transformation to an environment where people can travel actively to work and school. There are multiple popular interventions waiting to be funded not least school streets and modern cycle infrastructure. What is more, you have national organisations like Active Travel England straining at the gate to help deliver what you need to achieve your shared goals.

As clinicians we invite you to use our message and voice on the health benefits of clean air to legitimise accelerated action to fix the foundations of good health.

We would value the opportunity to discuss common goals while cycling with you some day soon.

Yours sincerely,

Ride for their Lives

Dr Mark Hayden, Paediatrician, London

Dr Heather Lambert, Paediatrician, Newcastle upon Tyne

Dr Chinthika Piyasena, Neonatologist, London

Dr Camilla Kingdon, Chair of the Healthy Air Coalition, and Neonatologist, London

Copied to

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Minister of State for Science.

Secretary of State for Transport.

Chief Medical Officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

National Active Travel Commissioner, Active Travel England.

References

1. Maternal exposure to ambient black carbon particles and their presence in maternal and fetal circulation and organs: an analysis of two independent population-based observational studies. Bongaerts, E, et al. Lancet Planetary Health, V6, Oct 2022, p e804.

2. Global burden of Disease, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, accessed 2024.

3. https://assets.publishing.serv...

Signatures before 1700 Wed 21 August

Vincent Lee	CAD manager	London
Vicky Bunker	Occupational Therapist	Cambridge
Veena Aggarwal	GP	London
Trevor Witcher	IT Manager	London
Tanja Dalle-Muenchmeyer	Sustainability Manager	London
Shamila Wanninayake	GP	Oxford
Roisin Quinn	Trainee Clinical Psychologist	Oxford
Rachel Westwood	Associate Chief Pharmacist	Northampton
Rachel Naunton	Paediatric Physiotherapist	London
Professor Syed Arshad	Physician	Southampton
Professor Ratko Djukanovic	Professor of Medicine and Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician	Southampton
Professor Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy	Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine & Allergy	Southampton
Professor Mike Wang	Clinical Psychologist	Tugby, Leicester
Professor Indi Banerjee	Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist	Manchester
Professor Helen Roberts	Professor of Child Health Research	London
Professor David Howard	ENT/ Head and Neck Oncology	London
Prof Raja Padidela	Paediatric Endocrinologist	Manchester
Prof Hilary Neve	GP	Plymouth
Peta Heslop	Deputy Director IR&D	North Shields, Tyne & Wear
Mx Emma Myers	Horticultural and Occupational Therapist	London
Mx Amy Jefferson	NHS HR Admin Assistant	Sheffield
Ms Sarah Abernethy	Librarian	Morpeth
Ms Nic Caudle	Occupational Therapist	Mossley
Ms Melissa Benyon	Physiotherapist	Helston
Ms Lucy Abbey	Nurse	London
Ms Johanna Andersson	EPR Senior Configuration Designer	London
Ms Jessie Frost	Paediatric Physiotherapist	London
Ms Jacqueline Gordon	CSO Clinical Fellow/Occupational Therapist	London
Ms Holly Graham	Occupational Therapist	Newcastle
Mrs Nicola Wilson	Lead Practice Educator	London
Mrs Cleo Kenington	Consultant Surgeon	London
Mrs Anna Bunten	Advanced Nurse Practitioner	Peterborough
Mr. Stephen Kent	Registered Nurse (retired)	Derby
Mr Zeshan Rawn	Senior Information Manager	London
Mr Ross Cooper	Mechanical supervisor	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Mr Phillip Hunting	Sustainability Manager	Hitchin
Mr Philip Branford	Environmental and Sustainability Officer	Sheffield
Mr Mario Fittipaldi	Senior Fellow CT surgery	London
Mr Kristin Moat	Physiotherapist	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Mr Gary Talbot	Estates Officer	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Mr Andrew Jackson	Sustainability Manager	London
Miss Sarah Mankin	Pathology Team Secretary	Sunderland
Miss Kathryn Henry	Clinical Research Nurse	Tynemouth
Miss Anna Jones	Sustainability Project Officer	London
Mary Light	Retired Nurse	Totnes
Marie-Michelle Mousse	EDI manager	London
Lubna Haque	GP	Bradford
Lana Buchheim	Advanced Occupational Therapist	Glasgow
Katie Todd	Physiotherapist	manchester
Katie Storey	Sustainability Officer	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Jean Davies	Midwife	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Jackie Bailey	Social Worker	London
Isabel Sharratt	Paediatric Nurse	London
Holmes	Project Officer	London
Ginny Royston	Retired GP	Bristol
Geraldine Vivian	Child Psychotherapist	Plymouth
Frank Molloy	Advanced Clinical Practitioner	London
Finella Craig	Paediatrician	London
Evelyn Watson Bell	Nurse	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Elaine Prosperini	Deputy Head of Nursing	Wallsend
Dr. Unni Wariyar	Paediatrician	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr. Meredith Robertson	Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician	London
Dr Zoe Rawlinson	GP	London
Dr Zoe Childs Ford	Paediatrician	Manchester
Dr Yasmin Mahfouz	Paediatrician	London
Dr Veena Rajagopal	Paediatrician	London
Dr Tony Waterston	Retired Paediatrician	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Timothy Malone	Research Fellow	Exeter
Dr Thomas Daniels	Consultant Respiratory Physician and Clinical Lead for Environmental Sustainability	Southampton
Dr T Thiruchelvam	Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant	Hertfordshire
Dr Sunil Bhopal	Consultant Community Paediatrician & Director of Child Health Research	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Simona Lampariello	Not Listed	London
Dr Shaza Omer	GP	Bradford
Dr Sharon Christy	GP	London
Dr Selvaseelan Selvarajah	GP	London
Dr Sarah Yamamoto	GP	London
Dr Sarah Hobday	Consultant Paediatrician	Derby
Dr Sam Oddie	Not Listed	Bingley
Dr Sally Walker	Retired GP	Tyneside
Dr Richard Smith	Health Journalist and Previous Editor of the BMJ	Clapham, London
Dr Rebecca Ollerenshaw	Paediatrician	Manchester
Dr Rajan Saini	Anaesthetist	London
Dr Rachel Bower	GP	London
Dr Premala Nadarajah	Anaesthetist	London
Dr Pam Wortley	Retired GP	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Nigel Stout	Consultant Physician	Morpeth
Dr Neeta Patel	Oral Surgeon	London
Dr Naomi Adelson	GP	London
Dr Munro Stewart	GP	Dundee
Dr Mirjana Cvetkovic	Consultant	London
Dr Mike Tomson	GP (retired) and Medical Educationalist	Sheffield
Dr Martin Carby	Respiratory Physician	Harefield
Dr Martha Kenyon	Clinical Psychologist	Bristol
Dr Marion Neffgen	Medical Psychotherapist	London
Dr Maria Bredow	Retired Paediatrician	Bristol
Dr Mareeni Raymond	GP	London
Dr Malcolm White	Registrar Physician	Glasgow
Dr Malcolm Coulthard	Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist	Hexham
Dr Lydia Horsfield	GP	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Lucy Reynolds	Paediatrician	Glasgow
Dr Lucy Brooks	Anaesthetist	Leeds
Dr Leela Kalra	Retired GP	Liskeard
Dr Laura-Jane Smith	Consultant Respiratory Physician	London
Dr Laura Baines	Consultant Nephrologist	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Katy Rose	Paediatric Emergency Registrar	Leeds
Dr Katrin Jones	Consultant Nephrologist	Newcastle
Dr Katia Florman	Respiratory Physician	London
Dr Katharine Fallon	GP (retired)	Winsford
Dr Karen Nielsen	Retired GP	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Julie McIlwaine	GP	Scottish Highlands
Dr Jim Roberts	Anaesthetist	London
Dr Jenny Friend	Elderly Care Doctor	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Javier Gavela	Paediatrician	London
Dr Jane Heraghty	Not Listed	Woodford
Dr James Fraser	Consultant Paediatric Intensivist	Bristol
Dr James Crichton	Transplant Fellow	Edinburgh
Dr Ian Logan	Consultant Nephrologist	Newcastle
Dr Henry Marshall	Respiratory Registrar	London
Dr Helena Clements	Paediatrician	Southwell, Notts
Dr Harry Apperley	Paediatrician	London
Dr Gillian Worsley	Retired GP	Bristol
Dr Gill Turner	Consultant Paediatrician	Hexham, Northumberland
Dr Florence Hibbert	Paediatrician	Manchester
Dr Fiona Thomson	GP	Glasgow
Dr Ewan Wallace	Paediatric Anaesthetist	Glasgow
Dr Ewan Hamnett	Retired GP	Birmingham
Dr Emma Stockton	Anaesthetist	London
Dr Emma Sheppard	GP Trainer	Glasgow
Dr Emma Radcliffe	GP	London
Dr Emma Fan	GP	Bradford
Dr Emily Parker	Paediatric Doctor	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Donald Waters	GP Registrar	Glasgow
Dr Diane Ackerley	Retired GP	Hexham
Dr Demetria Theodorou	Paediatrician	Manchester
Dr Dawn Linford	GP	North Shields
Dr Clare Winter	Head of Sustainability	Whitley Bay
Dr Claire Caldwell	Neonatal Consultant	London
Dr Christianne Guillotte	GP Registrar	London
Dr Chris Worth	Paediatrician	Manchester
Dr Catherine Peters	Paediatrician	London
Dr Cara Sandler	Orthodontic Registrar	London
Dr Caitríona Callan	GP Registrar	Oxford
Dr Beate Haugk	Consultant Histopathologist	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Barbara Laue	GP	Bristol
Dr Asad Rahim	Endocrinologist	Birmingham
Dr Anna Wozniak	Anaesthetist	Ipswich
Dr Anna Moore	Respiratory Doctor	London
Dr Andrew Sharp	GP	Truro
Dr Amelia Pickard	Paediatric Anaesthetist	Bristol
Dr Amelia Carton	Clinical Psychologist	London
Dr Alison Leaf	Paediatrician	Bristol
Dr Alexandra Kreins	Paediatrician	London
Dr Ajay Desai	Paediatrian	London
Dr Abrar Haider	Specialist Trainee Paediatrics	Manchester
Dan Saxton	Head of Sustainability	Birmingham
Christina Button	Manager	Bath
Christelle Blunden	GP	Southampton
Cath Rennie	Surgeon	London
Amanda Potterton	Advanced Nurse Practitioner	London
Abraham	Estates and Facilities	London

Signatures since 1700 Wed 21 August

Ms Monique Burgin	Clinical Nurse Specialist	Nottingham
Ms Henna Roberts	Senior Improvement Manager	London
Jane Davies	Paediatric Respiratory Consultant	London
Gary Connett	Paediatric Respiratory Consultant	Southampton
Dr Sunil Bhopal	Consultant Paediatrician	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr Solomon Kamal-Uddin	Paediatric Consultant	Amersham
Dr Sarah Walpole	Medical Registrar	Newcastle
Dr Rebecca Rhodes	Paediatrician	Nottingham
Dr Payam Torabi	GP	London
Dr Nadia Audhali	Paediatric Doctor	London
Dr Mike Mckean	Consultant Paediatrician	Tynemouth
Dr Maya Desai	Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician	Birmingham
Dr Lucy Everitt	Paediatric Respiratory Consultant	Southampton
Dr Lizzie Grove	GP	Bristol
Dr Chris Edwards	Paediatric Respiratory Consultant	Leeds
Dr Charlotte Sakuda	Paediatrician	Nottingham
Dr Caroline Harris	Paediatrician	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dr A Berlin	GP	London

Miss Gemma Bea	Advanced Clinical Practitioner	London
Dr Geraldine Swift	Psychiatrist	Wirral
Dr Clare Nickalls	Gp	Stourbridge
Dr Valerie Davies	GP ( Retired)	Teddington
Dr Matthew Lumley	Consultant Haematologist	Sutton Coldfield
Martin Fisher	Psychotherapist	London
Dr Elly Thomason	Consultant Paediatrician	Warrington
Dr Emily Farrow	Hospital doctor	London
Dr Sarah Mayell	Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician	Liverpool

Coverage by Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor The Times Newspaper (paywall)

Read

Quotes

"WHO identifies air pollution among the most important environmental risks for deaths and disease around the world, causing approximately seven million deaths each year, and affecting countries at all levels of development. We strongly urge national Governments to make the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy , land use and transport systems - and leverage the role of health workers not only in treating the effects of air pollution, but also in helping reduce it at source, and in advocating for a cleaner and more equitable future.” Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO.

“The Coroner was very clear in his Prevention of Future Deaths Report following the second inquest into my daughter Ella’s death from air pollution. He said, unless more is done to clean up the air we breathe, more children like Ella will continue to die. Air pollution is an invisible killer, you cannot see the damage it is doing to your body, or to your children’s bodies. But scientists have proved it and the health professionals who see patients everyday sick from the effects of breathing dirty air, know. They can see the damage it is doing to our health and they see the children that continue to die from asthma. I am grateful for all the doctors and healthcare workers behind Ride For Their Lives who are using their voice to urge Keir Starmer and his Government to take action now, to clean up the air we breathe. I sincerely hope the Prime Minister will listen.” Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE, Founder & Director of the Ella Roberta Foundation

"Through modern science we now know so much more about why and how pollution of the air we depend upon for life stunts the growth of the newborn, initiates and then drives the progression of lung diseases such as asthma, COPD and non-smoking lung cancer, but most importantly, enters the circulation to affect most non-communicable diseases involving all our organs. Surely, with this truly preventable driver of the most common diseases, the time has arrived to act. If over 40,000 deaths per year were accelerated by water pollution, there would be a national outcry. So we simply cannot allow dirty air affecting all of us to become the norm”. Professor Sir Stephen T Holgate CBE, FMedSci, MRC Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology, UKRI Clean Air Champion and Special Advisor to the RCP on Air Quality

“We’ve known about the health implications of poor air quality for years, but not enough has been done to tackle the problem and we are now in a situation where the health and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in the UK are impacted year on year. Under current government targets, a child born today will be exposed to dirty air from the minute they are born and still be breathing dirty air by the age of 20. That should not be acceptable to anyone.”
Dr Elaine Mulcahy, Director, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

RCPCH: Outdoor air quality in the UK - position statement including roles and responsibilities of paediatricians

Read