Today (16^th September 2021), ‘NHS (National Health Service) Ocean’ is being launched in a virtual online event demonstrating the range of the current issues caused by procurement and delivery of healthcare and raising awareness of the benefits to human health and wellbeing from healthy seas, coasts, and waterways.

During the event you can learn about the impacts of the national and global healthcare sector on both the ocean and human health from experts in the field. Hear first-hand accounts from individuals and communities involved in positive action to help conserve and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits and sustainable interactions with the ocean.

NHS Ocean was founded by NHS clinicians Dr Richard Hixson and Dr Georgie Sowman to ensure ocean health is considered, and where appropriate, included within human healthcare strategy.

Dr Richard Hixson, Consultant in Critical Care, NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and Co-founder NHS Ocean, said: “We’re looking forward to the launch event and are excited to work with the University of Exeter. I hope this project helps ensure oceans, coasts and inland waterways are included within our net-zero and nature-based plans and ensure we extend the ethos of ‘do no harm from patient to planet’.”

Professor Lora Fleming, director of the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health and Chair of Oceans, Epidemiology and Human Health said: “Our oceans are an incredible resource to aid our health and wellbeing, yet they’ve have been coming under more and more pressure in recent years, including from shipping and use of plastics in the NHS. We urgently need to work with health trusts and policy makers to reverse this trend, for the good of both planetary and human health.”

“We’re at the forefront of wellbeing and environment research at the University of Exeter, and it’s exciting to be part of the launch of this fantastic new project to showcase our expertise. Our previous research has proven that being by the ocean and interacting with water has benefits for our health and mental wellbeing and it is incredibly important that we protect that.”

Watch a video of the live event below: