BMA condemns Government for delay in implementing smoking ban

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Article Date: 13 Oct 2004 - 15:00 PST

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Doctors meeting in Edinburgh for the BMA's UK Council today (Wednesday 13 October) condemned the failure of the Westminster Government and the Departments of Health for their continued delay in introducing national legislation to ensure smoke free workplaces throughout the UK.

The BMA Council welcomed the success of legislation in the Republic of Ireland and Norway but expressed concern at delays by the UK and devolved governments to introduce laws to protect the public health.

Speaking at the meeting Dr Peter Maguire, a consultant anaesthetist from Northern Ireland and proposer of the emergency motion, said:

"Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable death in the UK. International evidence has shown that legislation, as part of a wider strategy, is effective in protecting the health of non-smokers and in reducing the number of people who smoke.

"Today we have a dreadful situation in the United Kingdom whereby more than three million workers are regularly exposed to secondary environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace. The evidence is absolutely incontrovertible that passive smoking kills and smokefree workplaces save lives."

"It is now six months since legislation was introduced in Ireland. In that short time, 96% of pubs are smoke-free, tobacco sales are down, and more than 7000 smokers have quit successfully.

"It is no longer acceptable for the UK Government to rely on voluntary measures to protect the health of the public. Passive smoking kills and every year they delay, 1000 people die."

UK:
Mr James Johnson, BMA Chairman said:

"The BMA has been calling for a ban for almost 20 years*. In that time, thousands of people have died because governments of all political persuasions have not had the courage to act on this issue. The question is, do today's leaders of the four nations have the guts to follow Ireland's lead and make enclosed public places smokefree?"

"The last six months in the UK has meant at least 350** more deaths among workers because of second hand smoke ? that's two workers dying every day. Among the most heavily exposed are workers in bars and clubs, just 1%*** of which are smoke-free.

"What is John Reid waiting for? The health risks are beyond any doubt. The Irish experience shows that smoke-free laws are workable and enforceable."

Scotland:
Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of the BMA's Scottish Council, added:

"In Scotland we have made some progress in bringing this debate to the public. A private member's Bill has been delayed in the Scottish Parliament pending the outcome of a consultation on smoking in public places. However, there is a very real risk that legislation could still be some way off.

"We call on our politicians at Holyrood to do all they can to ensure that legislation is implemented without further delay. While Westminster continues to stall on this issue, Scotland can reap the benefits of devolution and lead the way in developing the most effective piece of public health legislation in Scotland."

Northern Ireland:
Dr Brian Patterson, Chairman of the BMA's NI Council said:

"We are asking for a ban on smoking in public places so that innocent people do not continue to be victims. We want action and we call upon departmental officials to show honesty and leadership in doing what is right. The harm is happening here and now; every couple of weeks' delay means we kill another person in Northern Ireland.

"We do not have sit out a delay while the Westminster government makes its mind up. The Secretary of State for NI can enact legislation to introduce a ban now and we will continue to call on him to do so until he listens and takes action."

Wales:
Dr Tony Calland, Chairman of Welsh Council, said:

"The National Assembly for Wales voted in November last year to ban smoking in public places, but unfortunately, the powers lie in Westminster, and the Secretary of State for Wales needs to be persuaded before he suggests it to Cabinet as a Wales Bill. In the meantime, the Assembly has set up a committee to receive evidence and the BMA was the first organisation to give evidence.

"We are not just talking about smoke pollution. It is also about people who want to be able to give up smoking, which 70 per cent of smokers want to do, but cannot because they are addicted. They find giving up easier in a situation where smoking is not going on around them.

"It is not just to do with the passive smoking itself, it is also about helping people who want to give up to do so."

Ends

Note to Editors:

*The BMA first called for action in 1986

**350 workers: - Paper presented to Royal College of Physicians by Professor Konrad Jamrozik, Imperial College London, May 17 2004.

***1% pubs are smokefree - The Charter Group (April 2003) The Public Places Charter on Smoking ? Industry Progress Report. Charter Group: London.

The motion debated reads:

'That this Council reaffirms its full support for the continuing work of the BMA to ensure that all enclosed workplaces in the United Kingdom become smoke free for the health of the nation. Council expresses serious concern at the delay by Government and the Departments of Health to introduce immediate and progressive national legislation similar to that in place in the Irish Republic and Norway to ensure smoke free workplaces throughout the UK.'

Second hand smoke causes illness, including fatal illnesses. It can cause lung cancer and heart disease, and trigger asthma attacks. The BMA estimates that each year, passive smoking kills at least 1000 people.

Second hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer by 20-30% Passive smoking increases the risk of heart disease by 25-35% Passive smoking almost doubles the risk of stroke.

More than 3 million people are regularly exposed to second hand smoke

Bar workers' exposure to second hand smoke is six times that of office workers

Non-smokers who work in the smokiest bars are around 20 times more likely to get lung cancer than the average non smoker

The UK has no law to protect people from the health risks of second hand smoke

Non-smoking areas offer partial to no protection against second hand smoke

In the 15 years of voluntary initiatives on smoking in public places, not one has met its targets

Ends

For more information please contact:

Christine Mundin
Tel: 020 7383 6549
Fax: 020 7383 6403
Email: cmundin@bma.org.uk

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