York and North Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime has welcomed new government funding and commitments to improve firefighter health and wellbeing, saying the measures strongly align with local priorities to protect both frontline staff and the communities they serve.
The announcement follows confirmation this week of a new national programme of bespoke health support for firefighters, including regular and consistent health checks and funded research into the long‑term physical and mental health impacts of the role.
The measures form part of a new Firefighters’ Concordat on Health and Wellbeing, developed with the profession, which aims to deliver a more consistent, evidence‑based approach to supporting firefighters throughout their careers and beyond.
The programme recognises the cumulative risks firefighters face from exposure to contaminants, intense physical demands, and repeated traumatic incidents — impacts that may not fully emerge until years after active service.
Leaders in York and North Yorkshire say the government’s approach reflects concerns already being raised locally and builds on existing plans for workforce wellbeing and safety.
The new national commitment closely complements priorities set out in both the Mayor’s Fire and Rescue Plan and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Risk Management Plan.
Firefighters across York and North Yorkshire routinely attend fires, serious road traffic collisions, flooding, and other emergencies, often in hazardous environments. While their role is to protect others, local leaders emphasise the importance of ensuring that those who respond to danger are properly protected during service and supported long after.
Discussions held through local engagement, including the Deputy Mayor’s fire and rescue Online Public Meeting on Thursday 16 April, highlighted widespread concern about long‑term health risks faced by firefighters and a desire for stronger, more consistent national support.
York and North Yorkshire is considered well placed to make the most of the new national funding and framework. The Mayor’s Fire and Rescue Plan already sets out clear priorities around workforce wellbeing, operational safety, and organisational resilience, recognising that a healthy and supported workforce is essential to protecting local people.
At the same time, the CRMP places a strong emphasis on understanding and reducing risk, not only to communities but also to firefighters themselves, through prevention, evidence‑led decision‑making and safe operational practice.
Local leaders say the benefits of the programme will extend beyond firefighters themselves. Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said:
“Firefighters in York and North Yorkshire face real physical and mental demands in their work protecting our communities. This Government commitment recognises that firefighter health and wellbeing must be treated as a long-term priority, not an afterthought.
“Mayor David Skaith and I have made workforce safety and wellbeing central to our Fire and Rescue Plan and this national funding will help strengthen our local work.”
When firefighters are healthier and better supported, they are more able to respond safely, confidently, and effectively to emergencies, strengthening public confidence and long‑term resilience within fire and rescue services.
The Combined Authority will now work closely with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, national partners, and the government as further details of the programme are confirmed.
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