Asbestos still present in 83% of state schools in England, experts warn

Image Courtesy BOHS

Occupational health experts are warning that asbestos exposure in schools continues to put teachers, pupils and staff at risk of fatal disease, after the Government’s latest school estates strategy failed to meaningfully address the hazard.

Asbestos remains present in 83% of state schools in England, with official UK statistics indicating around 15 school workers die each year from asbestos-related disease caused by past exposure. US research also suggests that up to 135 pupils may be fatally exposed each year.

Despite this, the Government’s Schools Rebuilding Programme and Education Estates Strategy make no substantive reference to asbestos, relying instead on the Condition Data Collection (CDC) process, which explicitly states that it “does not report on hazardous materials (principally asbestos).”

The Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), the professional body for those managing asbestos risks, and the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) are concerned that this approach risks leaving schools ill-equipped to manage one of the most widespread and dangerous legacy hazards in the education estate.

National oversight of asbestos in schools has effectively ceased following the discontinuation of the Government’s Asbestos Management Assurance Programme (AMAP). The programme was intended to provide accurate national data on asbestos risks across the school estate, but its removal has left policymakers without a clear picture of the scale or condition of asbestos in schools.

Last year, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served improvement or enforcement notices to one in every 15 of the 421 schools inspected over asbestos management failures. While the regulator has emphasised this does not necessarily mean staff or pupils were in immediate danger, experts say it highlights the significant pressures on head teachers trying to manage a hidden and technically complex risk.

Under current policy, asbestos is generally considered safer to leave in place than remove. However, under the Schools Rebuilding Programme, the presence of asbestos is only treated as an “exceptional factor” if it has already caused an exposure risk or would pose a direct risk to health unless parts of a school were closed. As a result, relatively few of the 3,000 CLASP schools, widely recognised as posing the highest asbestos risk, are included in rebuilding plans.

Jonathan Grant, Registrar of the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), told That's Health: “Asbestos management requires specialist knowledge, detailed risk assessment and constant vigilance. The loss of national oversight has left schools without the support and consistency they need. Expecting head teachers and school staff to manage this risk alone is unrealistic and unsafe.”

Research by the Government in 2019 showed while three quarters of head teachers had read official asbestos guidance, this dropped to 40% of caretakers and facilities managers, and fewer than one in five governors. 

Fewer than 2% of maintenance workers in schools who may disturb asbestos had appropriate training, while 13% had not even received asbestos awareness training.

Schools are also not required to inform parents or pupils about the presence of asbestos, meaning school communities may be entirely unaware of potential risks.

Kevin Bampton, Chief Executive of BOHS, told That's Health: “Prevention is the future of occupational health, yet asbestos – a known cancer-causing substance – is being systematically ignored in national school policy. This is not about expensive solutions; it is about transparency, competence and putting health protection at the heart of safeguarding.”

FAAM and BOHS are calling for immediate, low-cost and cost-free action to bring schools in line with normal asbestos management principles, including:

publishing asbestos management plans on school websites;

establishing a clear right to know for teachers, parents and pupils;

providing governors with accessible guidance on overseeing asbestos risk;

offering centralised specialist support for head teachers and facilities managers;

making asbestos management a core part of school safeguarding inspections; and

setting enforceable training targets for school workers likely to encounter asbestos. 

https://www.bohs.org

Age Concern Hampshire Announces New Foot Clinics to Boost Confidence and Mobility for Older People

Age Concern Hampshire is set to open new foot care clinics in Kingsclere, Farnborough, Lymington, and Bordon, helping older people stay confident, active, and mobile.

Healthy feet are key to balance and independence, yet many older adults struggle to reach their toes due to arthritis, impaired eyesight, or reduced mobility. 

Age Concern Hampshire’s clinics, run by qualified foot health practitioners, provide toenail cutting and basic foot health checks, helping prevent discomfort, falls, and injuries.

Michele Ralph, Foot Care Coordinator at Age Concern Hampshire, told That's Health: "Our Foot Clinics are about more than just foot care, they help older people feel confident on their feet and maintain their independence. We’re committed to making this vital service accessible to everyone who needs it."

Clinics are available across Hampshire, including Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Dibden/Hythe, Havant, Hedge End, Locks Heath, New Milton, Odiham, Overton, Petersfield, Ringwood, Tadley, Winchester, and Yateley. The new clinics in Kingsclere, Farnborough, Lymington, and Bordon will open soon.

To book an appointment, call 01962 868545 or visit their website for more information: https://www.ageconcernhampshire.org.uk/our-services-hampshire/footcare

Great News For Readers of That's Health In London! South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic Launches £30 Dentist Appointment for London Patients

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic has announced the introduction of a £30 dentist appointment for patients in London, providing a lower-cost entry point into private dental care alongside clear information on treatment options and pricing.

The appointment is intended to support patients seeking a professional dental assessment, particularly those who may have delayed care due to uncertainty around cost or availability. 

Dental professionals continue to emphasise the importance of early assessment in identifying oral health concerns and supporting preventive care.

The £30 appointment includes a clinical dental assessment and a discussion of symptoms or concerns. Where further investigation or treatment may be appropriate, patients are provided with clear explanations and transparent information regarding possible next steps and associated fees. 

No treatment is carried out without patient consent, and all care decisions are made following clinical assessment.

In addition to the entry-level appointment, the clinic offers an optional Dental Membership Plan priced at £20 per month. Membership provides 50% off dental treatments offered by the clinic, subject to clinical suitability and standard terms. The plan is designed to help patients spread costs and support regular attendance, rather than replacing the need for professional clinical judgement.

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic provides a range of dental services, including preventive dentistry, hygiene care, restorative dentistry, cosmetic treatments, orthodontics, and emergency dental care. 

All services are delivered by appropriately qualified dental professionals registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

The clinic operates seven days a week, including weekends, supporting access for patients who may find weekday appointments difficult to attend. Flexible availability aims to reduce delays in assessment and encourage timely dental consultations.

Located at 20 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3DL, the clinic is centrally positioned and accessible from across London. 

The practice reports increasing demand for transparent pricing structures and clearer pathways into private dental care, particularly among patients seeking timely advice without extended waiting periods.

The introduction of a £30 dentist appointment reflects wider changes within UK private healthcare, where providers are responding to patient expectations around clarity, accessibility, and informed decision-making. 

Industry observers note that clearly defined consultation pricing can help patients engage with dental services earlier and make considered choices about their care.

The £30 dentist appointment and optional membership plan are now available to book.

Phone: 020 7183 2362

Email: southken@md.co.uk

Website: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk

Private Dentist Appointment: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/dental/private-dentist-london

Booking Link: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/book/dental

Join Their Membership: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/membership

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic is a London-based private healthcare provider offering dental services in line with UK regulatory standards. 

The clinic operates seven days a week and delivers care through qualified professionals registered with relevant regulatory bodies. 

Services are provided following appropriate clinical assessment, patient consent, and transparent communication.

A lifeline for rural amputees: UK charity STAND opens a major prosthetics centre in The Gambia

UK prosthetics charity STAND has renovated and opened a new rehabilitation centre in The Gambia, West Africa, marking a major step forward in providing prosthetic legs to rural amputees.

STAND supplies refurbished prosthetic legs to The Gambia, donated from across the globe. 

Locating this new centre in the heart of the country gives rural amputees direct access to these precious prosthetic limbs, as well as more responsive follow-up care and more reliable rehabilitation services.

The project has been driven by STAND, working in close partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, with financial support coming from STAND’s key supporters like The British School of Paris. The collaboration reflects a global commitment to strengthening and improving prosthetic care for amputees.

Before the centre, amputees travelled hundreds of miles to be fitted with a leg, as the main rehabilitation centre is located in the capital. STAND and its partners also funded outreach programmes which visited rural towns by car. While these visits were essential, it clearly was not an efficient or sustainable model.

STAND’s Trustee Lucy Gates, The Gambia’s Director of the Department of Social Welfare Allaye Barra, the Gambian press, STAND’s Gambian staff, and the community attended the opening.

Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND told That's Health: “This centre brings prosthetic and rehabilitation services within reach of people who have been excluded for too long. Distance should never determine who gets to walk again. 

"When mobility is restored, the barriers that once limited amputees begin to disappear, opening the door to walking, working, and truly thriving.”

Giles Bates, Head of Community and Service at The British School of Paris added: “A prosthetic limb can give a child an education, friends and a future filled with hope. We hope that the BSP's contribution towards STAND's new rehabilitation centre in Bansang in The Gambia will help make this a reality for the local community.”

https://www.stand.ngo

Attomarker initiates Acceleration Round to scale immunology diagnostics

Attomarker, a UK-based diagnostics company, has commenced an Acceleration Round to support the next phase of commercial and clinical development of its immunology diagnostics platform.

Attomarker develops multiplex immune diagnostics that deliver clinically relevant immune profiling from a single, small blood sample within a matter of minutes. 

Its tests are specially designed for use in real clinical settings and are already being used by clinicians.

The company’s current focus is immune profiling in patients with Long Covid, estimated to affect more than 65 million people worldwide. 

Attomarker’s COVID Antibody Spectrum Test enables immune classification of patients into one of three distinct endotypes, supporting treatment decision-making and monitoring of disease recovery. Two additional Long Covid companion tests are also in development.

Attomarker recently signed a strategic co-development agreement with EpitogenX to combine next-generation antigen technology with Attomarker’s diagnostics platform, with the aim of extending immune profiling into other immune-mediated conditions that are currently underserved by diagnostic options. Initial target areas include Lyme disease and Hashimoto’s disease.

The company holds a strong intellectual property position, with eight granted patents and a further patent pending, covering its core diagnostics technology and system architecture.

Attomarker’s diagnostics currently operate on a CE-marked benchtop device that is approved and in clinical use. A handheld device is also in development as an additional deployment option.

The Acceleration Round is intended to support commercial rollout, regulatory progress, further clinical validation, and expansion of Attomarker’s immune profiling portfolio within Long Covid.

Retail investor participation is being conducted through Crowdcube, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All eligibility checks, approvals, and investment activity take place on the Crowdcube platform.

https://www.crowdcube.com/early-access/attomarker

Information for non-retail investors is available via a separate information page.

https://attomarker.com/investors

Affordable Care Centres Offer Vital Break for Family Carers Across Hampshire

Age Concern Hampshire is dedicated to keeping day care affordable, ensuring older people and their families can continue to access vital support at a time when many family carers are under great pressure.

With half-day care available from £38.25, the charity’s Care & Wellbeing Centres provide a flexible and accessible option for family carers who are struggling to balance caring responsibilities with work, employment, and other family commitments, helping them to look after their own wellbeing, find time to rest, and stay supported while caring for their loved ones.

Operating from centres in Locks Heath, New Milton, Yateley and Dibden, Age Concern Hampshire offers a safe, welcoming environment where older people can enjoy companionship, stimulating activities and professional care. 

For family carers, this support provides trusted respite and peace of mind, even for just a few hours.

Sessions include engaging social and therapeutic activities, optional nutritious meals and refreshments, and personalised support from trained and experienced staff, including assistance with personal care and medication where required. Transport can be arranged for those who need help getting to and from the centres.

Hannah Park, Head of Operations at Age Concern Hampshire, told That's Health: “Family carers are often under immense strain, juggling caring responsibilities with work and other family commitments, often while facing financial pressure. 

"We are dedicated to ensuring our services remain affordable so family carers can access support before they reach crisis point. 

"Our half-day care sessions, from £38.25, help families get high-quality care without the cost of full-day or residential alternatives.”

Age Concern Hampshire recognises the vital role family carers play in supporting older people and believes affordable, preventative support is key to sustaining both carers and those they care for.

Free taster days are available at all Care & Wellbeing Centres, allowing families to experience the service before making any commitment. Call 01962 868545 or visit their website to find out more: https://www.ageconcernhampshire.org.uk/care-and-wellbeing-services-hampshire.

BWY and Parkinson’s UK partner to bring accessible yoga to people with Parkinson’s

The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), the UK’s largest yoga charity and National Governing Body for yoga in England and Wales, has partnered with Parkinson’s UK to make yoga more accessible for people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers.

On Friday 10 April, to mark World Parkinson’s Day (11 April), the organisations will host a free 45-minute online chair yoga class designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s, those who support them, and yoga teachers keen to adapt their classes for this community.

Led by Special Yoga Teacher and BWY Tutor Richard Kravetz, the session will share safe, practical movements and breathing techniques that can be done seated, with or without additional support.

Recent figures from Parkinson’s UK estimate that around 166,000 people in the UK are currently living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, with figures expected to rise due to an ageing population. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, causing symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and slowness.

A recent study of the effects of yoga on people with Parkinson’s disease found that yoga improved motor function, balance, functional mobility, anxiety, depression and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s.

BWY Chair, Diana O’Reilly told That's Heealth: "Yoga can be hugely beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. 

"Gentle chair-based practices can be adapted for almost everyone, which means people can participate safely whether they are newly diagnosed or have been living with Parkinson’s for many years. 

"Through this partnership, we want to give more teachers the tools they need to welcome people with Parkinson’s into their classes and to make sure no one feels that yoga ‘isn’t for them’.’

Jed Parsons, Physical Activity Delivery Manager for Parkinsons UK, commented: "I’m really excited about our partnership with the British Wheel of Yoga because it has the potential to make a genuine, lasting difference for people living with Parkinson’s. Yoga can be a powerful way to support strength, balance, mobility and wellbeing, but too often people feel that classes aren’t accessible or suitable for them.

"By working together, we can give yoga teachers the confidence, skills and understanding to adapt their practice, create welcoming environments and ensure that people with Parkinson’s feel included from the very first session. 

This partnership is about removing barriers, challenging perceptions, and making it clear that yoga is for everyone, whether someone is newly diagnosed or has been living with Parkinson’s for many years.’

For full event details and to book your place, visit the event page: https://portal.bwy.org.uk/user/events/1122. Please note, you will need to create a free account on the BWY website or log in to your existing account to complete your booking.

BWY is committed to sharing yoga’s transformative power and rich heritage through events and education. Guided by yoga’s principles and traditions, BWY’s mission is to enrich lives through yoga, increasing accessibility and inclusivity. 

Established as a registered charity in 1965 and recognised as the National Governing Body for Yoga by Sport England and Sport Wales, BWY serves more than 5,000 members and is supported by a 100-strong local volunteer network and a small central team.

https://www.bwy.org.uk

Parkinson’s UK is the leading charity for people affected by Parkinson’s, here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way. The charity campaigns for better health and care, funds groundbreaking research into new treatments and runs life-changing support services, uniting a powerful community with one mission: improving life with Parkinson’s. 

Physical activity is a key part of this, helping people manage symptoms, stay mobile, build confidence and support their mental wellbeing. Parkinson’s UK works to make sure people with Parkinson’s have safe, inclusive and meaningful opportunities to move, stay active and remain independent for as long as possible.

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk