A landmark health study’s interim report into Bradford’s Clean Air Zone has revealed early evidence of positive change in public health since it was launched, reducing visits to GPs in ever-increasing numbers and saving the NHS tens of thousands of pounds every month.
A year ago, experts from Born in Bradford (BiB) released the results of research into the data of 120,000 patients gathered in the city since 2018. Findings suggested air pollution was a factor for 35% of GP patients with breathing issues and 49% of those visiting A&E. Conditions included asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
But new research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to be presented to an international conference in November suggest that since Bradford Council introduced its Clean Air Plan (B-CAP), there is real evidence of an improvement in both respiratory and cardiovascular health across the city, as air quality across the city gets better.
One year after the Clean Air Zone was launched, the team found that on average there were 598 fewer GP visits for respiratory health and 134 fewer visits for cardiovascular health each month, reducing the burden on GP practices and saving the NHS an estimated £30,743 per month.
Born in Bradford director and report author, Professor Rosie McEachan, emphasised the need for caution as full research into the impact of B-CAP overall won’t be completed for another two years. Nevertheless, she confirmed the findings to date suggest the downward trend is real and gathering pace.
“It’s important to stress these are interim figures, and, as the baseline period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic we need a longer time period to be able to fully disentangle impacts of Bradford’s clean air plan,” she said.
“Nevertheless, they’re hugely encouraging and indicate important benefits for clean air on improving health. By reducing demand for GP appointments caused by preventable pollution relate illness should help to ease the burden on our over-stretched NHS. Our results also show how the Bradford Clean Air Zone is popular with the majority of people, with a 60% approval rating among the public one year after its launch.
“Our previous research underlined how poor air quality can put immediate pressure on our hospitals and GPs and how it impacts on children’s growth and brain development.
“But that research focused on a time when Bradford’s pollution levels were exceeded on an average of 157 days per year – 43% of the time. The Bradford clean air plan appears to have reduced that number and had a positive impact on the city’s health.”
The analysis, which has yet to undergo formal peer review, compares the B-CAP implementation period between October 2021 and September 2023 – including the launch of the Clean Air Zone in 2022 – with a baseline period between January 2018 and February 2020.
Researchers counted the number of patients accessing respiratory and cardiovascular services in GP settings and at the A&E department at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air were measured by a Government Automatic Urban and Rural Network site, with average reductions of 0.2 ug/m3 recorded monthly after the implementation of the B-CAP.