Children’s health hit by B&B life
Doctors have today warned that children who grow up in Bed and Breakfast accommodation are most vulnerable to a range of health problems.
A British Medical Association (BMA) report warns that children subjected to this environment are more likely to suffer from behavioural problems, stress and prone to suffer infections.
The results have prompted the doctors’ association to call on the Government to tackle poor housing, arguing that this is the key factor in causing ill health amongst the most vulnerable groups in society.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister maintains that the Government is on target to fulfil its pledge to stop utilising B&B’s to house homeless families by next year.
However, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s Head of Science and Ethics commented, “Recognition of the link between poor housing and ill health started in the 1800s so it is appalling that in the 21st century we are still raising concerns about this issue.”
The BMA report – ‘Housing and Health’ – argues that there is strong evidence to suggest that poor housing is linked to a number of serious conditions including heart disease and strokes, asthma and mental health problems such as depression.
Children who are bought up in sub-standard accommodation are particularly vulnerable and prone to developmental delay and bed-wetting, poor educational attainment and injuries in the home.
Dr Nathanson said, “Poor housing can cause psychological and physical health problems and the best way to reduce health inequalities in this country is to improve living standards.”
Besides moves to redress the “unacceptable” decline in investment in social housing, the BMA suggests the establishment of a ‘Healthy Housing Taskforce’.
The Taskforce would facilitate a joined up approach to tackling this complex issue by re-establishing strong links with the health professions and those concerned with housing policy and practice and report back to Ministers.
The BMA also accuses the private sector of posing the greatest risk to health by containing the largest proportion of substandard housing. It advocates selective licensing for private landlords to counter this problem and ensure properties that fell below minimum health standards were refused licences.
The report also highlights that many people become homeless because they can no longer afford to pay their mortgage.
It argues that mortgage arrears and repossessions should be recognised as major public health issues following figures, which show that 75,540 households lost their property in 1991 and this rose by 1997, leaving one million people homeless.
Dr Nathanson said, “This is a huge subject and the BMA has a number of concerns. We are worried about children growing up in over-crowded, sub-standard bed and breakfast accommodation, we are worried about the elderly living on their own in old, damp, cold homes and we’re worried about the spiralling stress levels of people who fear mortgage arrears and debt.”
