Natural England

A conference to advance the connection between the health sector and the natural environment - to be held on Monday 18 June at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

The number of people suffering chronic disease is multiplying rapidly with a huge cost to the economy. One in four adults and children are obese and heart disease alone costs the UK £29 billion per annum. Failure to take action now will mean that future health-care systems will be unable to cope and the economic burden to society is predicted to be vast.

This conference will bring together local authority, primary care, private, independent and third sector representatives to help understand and use the health benefits gained from the natural environment.

The conference will explore how high quality natural green space can help reduce emergency hospital admissions, while increasing the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

In order to ensure the most interactive, lively, thoughtful and passionate debates, those attending the conference will be able to vote electronically on key questions presented throughout the day, and can participate by texting their views onto a screen on stage.

Keynote addresses will be given by:

• Caroline Flint MP, Minister of State for Public Health
• Howard Frumkin MD, Dr PH, Director, National Centre for Environmental Health, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, US
• Anna Coote, Head of Engaging Patients and the Public, Healthcare Commission, and Commissioner for Health at the Sustainable Development Commission

The conference will be chaired by Nick Ross, TV/radio presenter and journalist.

For more information and to register for the conference, please see www.naturalenglandhealthconference.co.uk.