Your Home Shouldn’t Make You Sick
22nd July 2025
What happens when a child’s lungs become the canary in the housing crisis? In this powerful episode, Jenny is joined by Dr Abigail Whitehouse — a paediatric respiratory doctor and clinical academic who’s bridging research and real-life action. Abby co-leads the UK’s first Children’s Environmental Health Clinic and is on a mission to stop housing from making kids sick.
Together, they explore:
Why mould, damp and overcrowding aren’t just housing issues — they shape a child’s lungs for life
How pollution-monitoring backpacks and home visits are changing NHS asthma care
The power of asking, “Can you heat your home?” in clinical settings
Misconceptions about indoor air pollution (yes, your toaster and candles count)
Why training future doctors to consider housing as a health determinant is urgent
The moral and economic case for putting children’s health at the centre of retrofit and asset decisions
Abby says: “We don’t need more fancy medicine — we need fewer sick children.”
And Jenny challenges: “Are we thinking enough about the families living in these homes?”
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Tune in, reflect, and share with colleagues who care about creating healthier homes and a healthier future.