Our society is facing unprecedented challenges. Exacerbated by an ageing population, escalating demand for services the global pandemic of COVID-19 and the climate crisis this represent the bleakest outlook for our future generation since the second world war. On top of this, and despite attempts to mitigate this direction of travel,  the current process of delivering services on outdated estates, reliance on outdated technologies that significantly generate emissions, and that are unsustainable in terms of energy consumption serve to increase inequalities not reduce them.

An inability for health and social care to truly impact on the wider determinants of health and demonstrates the inadequacies of the current approach. These determinants are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These determinants play an even greater role in how people in vulnerable communities are affected. Most significantly, the body of evidence indicates that these factors are heavily influenced by the design and construction of peoples’ homes places of work and public spaces. Which is why Respiratory Innovation Wales is supporting the Healthy Houses Bill. 

The Healthy Homes Bill aims to improve the quality of housing across the UK, with a focus on reducing health hazards such as dampness and poor ventilation. The bill has the potential to make a significant impact on health and wellbeing in Wales, especially where air quality impacts on respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD are prevalent.

Respiratory Innovation Wales has been at the forefront of advocating for improved respiratory health in Wales, and their recommendations on the Healthy Homes Bill are expected to provide valuable insights into how the bill can be made more effective in addressing respiratory health concerns.

“We are privileged to have the opportunity, offered by Lord Crisp, to support the Healthy Homes Bill at the House of Lords,” said Dr Philip Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Respiratory Innovation Wales. “As an organisation dedicated to improving respiratory health in Wales, including the wider determinants of health we believe that this bill has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of those living with respiratory illnesses.”

Respiratory Innovation Wales is committed to working with policymakers and other stakeholders to improve respiratory health in Wales and beyond. Their visit to the House of Lords is an important step towards achieving this goal.

For more information on healthy homes, smarter homes or respiratory innovation, visit: www.riwales.com