President’s bulletin: February 2024

Re-establishing the link between housing and health

Housing is a pillar of environmental health which stretches back to the days of Sir Edwin Chadwick. I am writing this piece next to East Bute dock an area of Cardiff that expanded rapidly with the export of coal across the world. Cardiff docks or Tiger Bay as it is known was home to thousands that arrived from all over the world. As a new EH student in Cardiff one of my first educational visits was to Butetown to inspect an old terrace row of housing that had been vacated as part of slum clearance. That was my initial practical introduction to housing. It was as if I had been transported back to that past.

Housing was built to the standards applicable at the time to accommodate all arrivals to the emerging city. These “standards” were accepted building practices. There were no different housing standards for those arriving in Cardiff in the 19th Century from across the world and those born in the city. Today the area is no longer full of ships, smoking industrial units, noisy railway sidings and old dilapidated housing but full of modern apartment blocks as part of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay and the building of the barrage to form a fresh water lake. EH would have been involved in all of this over the years.

Modern living accommodation is not without problems such as fire safety or mould issues. Housing conditions and standards continue to be a very important health issue for EH to deal with. We need an adequate capacity of qualified EHPs to tackle this.

A controversial policy to remove basic HMO protections from asylum seekers has been withdrawn by the government. It was very pleasing to read of the CIEH involvement in achieving this withdrawal and avoiding a two tier housing landscape. Amicus humani generis.

The links between housing, health and wellbeing are sometimes lost. The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is carrying out a major inquiry into - Prevention in health and social care. Healthy places the second report has recently been published. Housing features heavily. The housing ombudsman in England is calling for an independent royal commission “to reimagine the future of social housing” and re-establish the link between housing and health. EHPs know the links and need to be recognised and engaged for their important contribution in creating and maintaining safe housing and healthy places. What is new?

In 1885 (two years after the formation of our Institute - the Association of Sanitary Inspectors) a Royal Commission under Lord Shaftesbury on the housing of the Working Classes drew attention to the shortage of suitable accommodation and the overcrowding that resulted. In the same year the Housing of the Working Classes Act was passed. At the 1885 commission, Lord Shaftesbury said “nor were the Sanitary Inspectors as efficient as they might have been, though there had been a great improvement in the class of man appointed”. In 2024 EHPs are an all inclusive professional class.

The CIEH Workforce Satellite Panel

The President’s Commission theme of “EH capacity and capability” is evolving quickly. All colleagues are supportive of ensuring the profession has the necessary number of EH professionals across all our pillars, not just housing. The first CIEH Workforce Satellite Panel took place on 19th February. I am learning rapidly of the best ways to ensure an interest by young people to enter a career in EH and much more. Very useful and detailed contributions were made by all. The outputs will form the basis of policy briefs throughout the year and finally a comprehensive report following the establishment of a new government.

The meet the leaders event

The meet the leaders event in February was a very useful forum for members to engage. There were no easy answers to all the questions, however, raising topics of concern and interest will help shape the direction of the CIEH. Members can watch the recording of the webinar via MyCIEH.

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week recently took place. The week showcases the benefits that apprentices can bring to local communities, businesses, and the wider economy. In England EH apprenticeships are growing in number. This is a very good way to enter the EH profession. CIEH has created a toolkit to help employers set up EH apprenticeships, you can find this on the CIEH website.

Please do let me have your comments, thoughts and ideas. I welcome them. [email protected]