Tayside doctors join the fight against ‘public health crisis’

WARNING: Many respiratory issues could be caused by air pollution

Doctors in Tayside have joined a group of 175 leading medical professionals warning air pollution is causing a “public health crisis” in hospital wards across the UK.

Physicians have urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commit more funds to addressing air quality amid fears medical centres are being swamped by thousands of patients arriving with respiratory conditions.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, the doctors said pressures on services are being “exacerbated by preventable causes” and urged him to set a legallybinding target to meet World Health Organisation guidelines for air pollution by 2030.

“Thousands of children and adults are in hospital or waiting rooms with conditions such as respiratory diseases, bronchitis and pneumonia who would not be there if air pollution was reduced,” they wrote.

“Air pollution isn’t just associated with conditions such as lung cancer or asthma, it can also trigger heart attacks, strokes and has been linked with diabetes and depression.

“The hospitals and surgeries we work in are overwhelmed, particularly in A&E, and the severe pressures in the winter months are being exacerbated by preventable causes. This is a public health crisis.”

Jill Belch, a professor of vascular medicine at Ninewells Hospital and co-leader of the Tayside Pollution Project at Dundee University, is one of the signatories to the letter.

She said: “It’s a huge problem. I feel very strongly that this is a new silent killer and it is an entirely avoidable cause of death.

“There are a lot of simple things we can do like scrapping older vehicles, encouraging electric cars and banning diesel vehicles from city centres.”

Jill Belch, professor of vascular medicine.