RCGP statement on UK Health Alliance on Climate Change launch
Publication date: 30 March 2016
The RCGP has issued the following statement to coincide with the launch of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.
Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "The environment we live in and how it changes throughout the year undoubtedly impacts on our health and wellbeing. Cold weather brings increased levels of flu and other respiratory illness and in hot weather we see a number of serious conditions related to dehydration - in extreme conditions these trends can reach very dangerous levels, and it is our most vulnerable patients, often elderly, who suffer most.
“This is particularly noticeable in general practice, as GPs and our teams make 90% of all NHS patient contacts, and our surgeries are more susceptible to the devastating consequences of climate change, such as flooding.
"The Government must act to support GP practices and the wider health service prepare for the negative side effects to our patients' health that extreme weather brings, and with soaring climate change, is becoming ever more frequent."
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7633/7574/7575
Out of hours: 0203 188 765
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes to editor
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.