Read the response from Wendy Preston, Chair of ARNS, following publication by the Department of Health Tobacco Control Plan for England
‘We welcome the publication of the Tobacco Control Plan and had been campaigning as part of the Smoke-Free Alliance for the government to speed up its publication, as there had been a long period without a plan.
Whilst it’s aspirations are to be celebrated and there are clear targets, it is still unclear regarding the detail of how these will be met and there is missing substance around funding. Local authority funding for public health is consistently being cut and a report published by ASH in November 2016 showed that 59% had reduced or even in some cases stopped smoking cessation service. Whilst we know that smoking tobacco kills half of its users and has significant health burden, reducing access to essential smoking cessation treatment is not acceptable.’
Download the Department of Health Tobacco Control Plan for England here
