Labour pledges to put water companies under “special measures” as over 10,000 hospitalised for waterborne diseases under Tory rule
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The number of people admitted to hospital for water-borne diseases
has skyrocketed under Tory rule as record levels of sewage pollute
Britain's rivers, lakes and seas. Since 2019, more than
10,000 people have been hospitalised in Britain due to water-borne
diseases, with hospitalisations increasing at an unprecedented
rate. The new analysis of NHS data by the Labour Party casts
further scrutiny on the Conservatives management of the water
industry and follows several...Request free trial
The number of people admitted to hospital for water-borne diseases has skyrocketed under Tory rule as record levels of sewage pollute Britain's rivers, lakes and seas. Since 2019, more than 10,000 people have been hospitalised in Britain due to water-borne diseases, with hospitalisations increasing at an unprecedented rate. The new analysis of NHS data by the Labour Party casts further scrutiny on the Conservatives management of the water industry and follows several areas of the UK being told not to drink tap water after parasite outbreaks. Over the last two years, the number of people diagnosed in hospital with common diseases that can be transmitted via water-borne infection has nearly doubled, with 3,261 cases recorded 2022-2023, the highest number since comparable records began. The biggest year on year rise was recorded for Typhoid Fever, a condition that the NHS classifies as more common in parts of the world that have poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. 603 cases of typhoid fever were recorded last year, a figure that has more than doubled since 2022. This comes as the latest Environment Agency data found that last year was the worst for sewage spills since records began. Sewage was discharged for an eye watering record 4 million hours across England in 2023. The number of sewage discharges has skyrocketed by 58%, from over 477,000 sewage spills in 2023, compared to 301,091 in 2022. Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed has set out detailed plans to put failing water companies under “special measures” to force them to clean up their toxic filth. The next Labour government will:
Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, said: “It is sickening that the Conservative Sewage scandal has put over ten thousand people in hospital. “They just folded their arms and looked the other way while water companies pumped a tidal wave of raw sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas putting the nation's health at risk. “It is time for change. The next Labour government will put the water companies under special measures and strengthen regulation to force them to clean up their act. “We will give the regulator tough new powers to make law-breaking water bosses face criminal charges and ban the payment of their multi-million pound bonuses until they clean up their toxic filth.” Ends Notes
Source: NHS Hospital Admissions - 2022/23 Common water conditions sourced from Clean Rivers Trust, British Rowing and NHS England.
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