According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, air pollution contributes to over 6 million deaths annually. A growing body of research links it to the exacerbation of chronic and acute diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cognitive decline.
Recognizing air pollution as a healthcare emergency, Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust has committed to a Climate Emergency Strategy, with Clean Air as a key goal alongside Zero Carbon Care and Zero Waste by 2025. To achieve this, the Trust is implementing the Clean Air Hospital Framework (CAHF), aiming for Excellent status by the end of the 2025 financial year. The CAHF is a self-directed air quality improvement initiative with 215 targeted actions across seven key policy areas under hospital influence: Travel, Procurement, Construction, Energy, Local Air Quality, Outreach & Leadership, and Communication & Training.
In this webinar, Babatunde Okeowo walks you through the CAHF framework and its implementation methodology, progress, and key learning at the Trust. He also shares ongoing data from indoor and ambient air quality monitoring and modelling at Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and Freeman Hospital, illustrating how these interventions support the Trust’s Clean Air Goal.
