BMA response to CMO report 'On the state of public health' UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 29 Jul 2004 - 8:00 PDT

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Commenting on the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sir Liam Donaldson's, findings on the economic benefits of smoke-free public places, the Deputy Chair of the BMA's (British Medical Association's) Board of Science, Dr Peter Maguire, said:

"The BMA has been calling for a ban on smoking in enclosed public places since 1988 because we know that passive smoking kills. One of the arguments used against a ban has been the economic one but the CMO report knocks that on the head.

"This is no surprise to me. I have seen smoke-free pubs and restaurants in Ireland thronging with crowds of people. Business is booming in smoke-free Ireland AND lives are being saved.

"The Government really has no excuse, it's time for Ministers to show leadership and follow the examples of Ireland, Norway and New York and go smoke-free."

The BMA also welcomed the CMO's acknowledgement of the importance of academic medicine. Professor Peter Dangerfield, Deputy Chairman of the BMA's Medical Academic Staff Committee, said:

"Medical schools need high calibre teachers to deliver the doctors of the future, but, staffing levels are falling at a worrying rate. It is vital for the NHS that we make careers in education and research more attractive to young doctors."

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