Remove sunbeds from Council leisure centres, says CIEH

16 August 2011

Despite having a legal duty to protect and improve public health an astonishing 30 percent of Councils continue to provide sunbeds and other artificial tanning facilities in their leisure centres, according to a survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Alarmingly, the survey also shows that some local authorities allow the use of unsupervised tanning facilities on their premises. This is incredulous, given that unmanned facilities will be outlawed in Wales in October 2011.

Commenting, David Kidney, CIEH Head of Policy, said:

"Having sunbeds in Council leisure facilities premises is like having cigarette vending machines in a hospital – local authorities have a duty to look after the health of people living in their communities.

"The CIEH has been campaigning for many years for greater regulation of the sunbed industry and for unsupervised, coin operated machines to be banned altogether.

"It is an outrage that Councils which have an obligation to promote health, fitness and wellbeing are actually making money from an activity that is detrimental to health and increases the risk of malignant melanoma – the fastest growing cancer in the UK .

"We welcomed, supported and campaigned for the introduction of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 which came into force this April, and which bans the use of sunbeds for under-18s. However we have serious concerns that the availability of unsupervised tanning facilities could increase the chance that people under 18 could use them."

"Skin cancer is a significant public health problem in the UK and by using sunbeds people are increasing the risk of contracting skin cancer, damaging their immune system and experiencing premature ageing of the skin.

Tracey Loftis, Public Affairs Manager at Cancer Research UK, said:

"Using sunbeds, even infrequently, damages the skin and increases the risk of malignant melanoma – the most dangerous type of skin cancer. We know that people who first use sunbeds before the age of 35 increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75 per cent and that two young adults are diagnosed with the disease every day in Britain.

"Having sunbeds in council-run leisure centres sends a mixed message to the public and goes against the duty local authorities have to promote health and wellbeing in their communities.

"Cancer Research UK is concerned that some local authorities allow the use of unsupervised sunbeds which could provide easy access to under-18s.

"We urge the UK government to bring in measures to make sure all facilities with sunbeds are staffed, their use is supervised and accurate health information is displayed and provided."

The CIEH believes local authorities, rather than promoting the use of sunbeds, can play a significant role in reducing skin cancer, and removing sunbeds should be just one part of an overall local authority skin cancer programme."

In addition David Kidney highlighted other sun care responsibilities local authorities should undertake to protect public health, including:

•Providing sun awareness campaigns, in particular targeting children through parents and carers
•Providing shaded areas in school playgrounds
•Providing suitable sun protective clothing for outdoor employees
•Requiring shade provision as a condition of planning permission for new developments.

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