Children and vulnerable adults could be better protected under government plans to ban smoking from playgrounds, schools and hospital grounds in England.
Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, but today is a good day for the nation’s health. The government has launched a public consultation on plans to stop people smoking, vaping or using heated tobacco in playgrounds and schools.
Areas outside of hospitals would also become smoke free under the proposals, which form part of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. However, outdoor hospitality settings, such as pub gardens, and open public spaces are not included.
Under the plans, indoor spaces – where smoking is already banned – would also become vape and heated tobacco free.
When launching the consultation, health secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘No child in a playground or hospital patient should suffer because someone else chooses to smoke.
‘Second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer and we want to protect children and the sick from harm.’
‘Prevention is better than cure, so this government is taking pressure off the NHS and building a healthier Britain where everyone lives well for longer,’ he added.
Separate research from ASH – a UK leading public health charity – shows around two million children in the UK are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, leading to over 300,000 GP consultations and 9,500 hospital visits annually.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said people who don’t smoke but are exposed to ‘second-hand smoke can suffer significant harmful effects on their health, including an increased risk of asthma, poor birth outcomes, several cancers, strokes and heart disease.’
‘No smoker wants to harm people, but with second-hand smoke they do,’ Whitty continued. ‘[A]nd these measures would reduce the harm second-hand smoke causes the most medically vulnerable in our society.’
As well as aiming to reduce harm to health, the consultation will also look at setting outdoor boundaries and considering whether designated smoking areas should be allowed.
Ministers have said any new regulations will not come into force for at least six months, giving time for guidance to be issued and for people to adjust.
Business minister Kate Dearden, said: ‘These are targeted proposals to protect children and families from second-hand smoke and vaping without placing extra pressure on pubs, restaurants or the wider hospitality sector.
‘We have been clear that we will support businesses, and after listening to their concerns, we have excluded outdoor hospitality spaces from these changes.’
Meanwhile, Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, has welcomed the proposals.
‘Smoking is the leading cause of cancer deaths in England, and we can’t afford to lose any momentum in the fight against tobacco,’ Dr Walker said. ‘The government must now swiftly pass and implement the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill to protect future generations from a lifetime of deadly and costly addiction.’
Image: Pawel Czerwinski/UnSplash
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