ELF Council members Helen Parks and Phil Taverner recently took part in discussions on heart health and air quality, sharing their knowledge and lived experience to conversations across public health and patient care throughout Europe and the UK.
On 20 May, Helen Parks, ELF Council member and Chair of the ELF United Patient Advisory Group (UPAG), attended a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) event in Brussels focused on gender equity in cardiovascular health and tobacco control. At the same time incoming ELF Chair, Phil Taverner, joined a Clean Air Champions network meeting to discuss opportunities for UK clinicians to take action addressing the health impacts of air pollution.
Helen Parks took part in a panel discussion on tobacco control, where she spoke about the risks of vaping, smoking and nicotine use, particularly among young people. Drawing on her experience of living with asthma, she described the impact that passive smoke had on her growing up. She also shared her experience as a teacher and the rapid rise in vaping among students in recent years.
Helen highlighted concerns about the increasing use of nicotine products among young people, particularly teenage girls, and the importance of raising awareness among policymakers and introducing stronger measures to tackle what she described as a growing and largely unregulated vaping problem.
She stressed that reducing exposure to nicotine is critical to preventing future health problems and protecting the next generation.
The discussion reinforced the need for action to reduce tobacco and nicotine-related harms and to protect young people from products that can affect their health.
Phil Taverner joined a Clean Air Champions clinician network meeting in the UK, which supports healthcare professionals to talk to patients about air quality and how it can affect their health.
During the meeting, Phil shared how air pollution affects daily life as someone living with asthma. He spoke about the difficult choices many people often have to make when trying to avoid pollution while carrying out everyday activities.
Phil also emphasised the importance of clear and accessible information, so that patients can understand the risks of air pollution and make informed decisions about their health. He explained that while people can take some steps to reduce exposure to pollution, such as improving indoor air quality or avoiding heavily polluted areas, when possible, these options are not always practical or within a person’s control.
This means wider action is needed to reduce air pollution and protect people’s heath. The discussion also explored how healthcare professionals can help by raising awareness, offering practical advice and supportive patients understand how air quality may affect their condition.
These discussions show why patient voices are important in decisions about healthcare and public health. Together, their experiences demonstrated the need for both prevention and wider action to reduce avoidable health risks. By bringing patient perspectives into these discussions, ELF helps ensure that policies and healthcare approaches reflect the realities of living with lung conditions.
ELF will continue to work with partners across Europe to ensure that patient voices are included in discussions on tobacco control, air quality and public health.
By sharing real-life experiences, patient representatives help shape policies and healthcare approaches that support better health outcomes for people living with lung conditions.
