Swansea Bay nurses rehouse children from mouldy homes 2026

Key Points

• According to two paediatric respiratory nurses in Swansea Bay, kids with asthma no longer go to hospital due to the relocation from damp and mouldy homes.
• Joanne Morris and Rachel Rees have developed communication channels between the health care facilities and Swansea Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, and housing associations.
• Ten families have been referred to housing departments since June 2025; four out of ten have found alternative accommodation, three out of ten have undergone remodelling works, while others’ cases are still pending.
• The nurses point out that mould could aggravate asthma and cystic fibrosis, whereas medication could not tackle the root of the issue in question.
• Both councils have acknowledged that children with lung diseases have to be prioritized for either damp-proofing or rehousings.
• The project has been inspired by Dr Ian Sinha’s presentation during the 2024 conference and two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death in Rochdale in 2020.
• In England, there is the so-called Awaab’s Law that obliges social landlords to investigate and make the necessary repairs to fix damp and mould within defined timeframes; Wales does not have any similar legislation in place now.

Swansea (Wales Times) October 30, 2026 – Children with asthma have stopped needing hospital care after two uk/local/swansea/">Swansea Bay paediatric respiratory nurses helped move their families out of homes affected by damp and black mould.

As reported by Kit Peters of Swansea Bay News, Joanne Morris and Rachel Rees, both paediatric respiratory nurses, repeatedly saw the same children return to the ward. When they asked families about their living conditions, they found a recurring pattern of poverty, damp and mould on walls.

The nurses now describe having what they call a “direct line” to Swansea Council, Neath Port Talbot Council and local housing associations. When a child continues to return to hospital, the relevant landlord is contacted about the property.

How Are Nurses Helping Families With Mould?

The initiative links hospital-based respiratory care with housing action. Rather than treating asthma symptoms in isolation, the nurses raise housing conditions with councils and housing providers so that inspections, repairs or rehousing can be considered.

Joanne Morris said families who had been moved provided clear evidence of the impact. As reported by Swansea Bay News, she stated:

“They’re not coming to hospital anymore, due to the removal of the triggers.”

She said the nurses could adjust a child’s medication, but that this would not resolve the underlying problem if the child remained in a damp or mould-affected home.

“It doesn’t matter what medications they’re given, if they are living in a place like that,”

she said.

Morris compared the effect of mould exposure to second-hand smoke.

“It’s like they’re living with somebody that’s smoking next to them. We have to address it,”

she said.

What Health Risks Does Household Mould Pose?

Mould can inflame asthma and cystic fibrosis, and Swansea Bay University Health Board says that, in some cases, it can be fatal. The health board’s respiratory lead, Dr Huma Mazhar, said mould exposure can cause “persistent cough, wheeze, disturbed sleep and recurrent exacerbations”.

According to Swansea Bay News, Dr Mazhar said these symptoms can make asthma difficult to control even when a child receives appropriate treatment. She said Morris and Rees had “proactively contacted the council to arrange property inspections and supported families in securing better housing”.

Dr Mazhar said their work demonstrated “the vital role of specialist nursing in addressing the wider determinants of health”.

Why Did The Nurses Begin This Work?

The nurses began developing the approach after attending a 2024 conference talk by Dr Ian Sinha on poverty and children’s lung health. Rachel Rees said they were also influenced by the case of Awaab Ishak.

Awaab was two years old when he died in Rochdale in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his family’s social housing flat. His parents had raised concerns but said they were ignored.

Following his death, England introduced Awaab’s Law, which requires social landlords to investigate and repair damp and mould within set deadlines. Swansea Bay News reports that no equivalent Welsh law is currently in force.

Rees said: “We thought we need to have something in place that’s able to help these families.”

How Many Families Have Been Helped?

A poster produced by the nurses, which has won a national award, says approximately ten families have been referred to housing teams since June 2025.

According to the figures reported by Swansea Bay News:

• Four in ten families were rehoused.
• Three in ten had repair or remedial work completed.
• The remaining cases were still being dealt with.

Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot Council have agreed that children with lung conditions should be prioritised for damp-proofing work or a move to alternative accommodation.

The nurses are due to present their poster at the National Paediatric Respiratory and Allergy Nurses Group conference next month.

Why Can Private Renters Not Receive The Same Help?

The nurses say there is a gap in support for families living in privately rented homes. They wanted to send private landlords a standard letter explaining the effects of mould on children’s lungs.

However, according to the poster cited by Swansea Bay News, Swansea Bay University Health Board’s legal team did not support the proposal because of “potential financial and legal implications”.

Families in private rented accommodation are instead directed to their legal rights, including Awaab’s Law where it applies. Morris and Rees say their ability to act directly for these families “is limited”, and they are asking colleagues in other areas how they manage similar cases.

What Should Parents Do If Their Home Has Mould?

The nurses’ advice to parents is to act without delay. Joanne Morris said:

“They have to report it, get it reviewed by the council as soon as possible to start work.”

Swansea council tenants can contact the housing repairs service at HousingRepairs.CallCentre@swansea.gov.uk. In Neath Port Talbot, concerns about rented homes should be reported to the council’s environmental health team.

Housing association tenants are advised to report the issue to their landlord. The nurses also encourage parents to inform the Morriston Hospital respiratory team so that housing concerns can be considered alongside a child’s medical care.

Background Of The Development

The development follows growing attention across the UK to the health effects of damp and mould in social housing. Awaab Ishak’s death in Rochdale in 2020 led to Awaab’s Law in England, which places time limits on social landlords to investigate and address damp and mould hazards.

In Wales, no directly equivalent statutory deadline regime is currently in force. The Swansea Bay initiative therefore relies on cooperation between hospital respiratory teams, local authorities and housing associations rather than a specific legal duty.

The nurses’ approach reflects wider clinical recognition that housing quality, heating costs and poverty can affect children’s respiratory health. Morris said the problem appeared more common than before and linked it to households being unable to put heating on when needed.

Prediction: What Could This Mean For Families In Swansea Bay?

For families in Swansea Bay and Neath Port Talbot, the development may make it easier for parents of children with asthma or other lung conditions to have housing problems recognised as a health issue rather than treated only as a repairs matter.

If councils and housing associations continue to prioritise children with respiratory conditions, families could see faster inspections, damp-proofing work or rehousing in severe cases. This may reduce repeat hospital attendances for children whose symptoms are triggered by mould exposure.

For private renters, however, the situation may remain more difficult until clearer routes are established for health professionals to raise concerns directly with landlords. The nurses’ request for guidance from colleagues elsewhere suggests the health board may face continued pressure to find a lawful and practical way to support families in private rented homes.