Agenda item

The Board will receive a presentation on the Local Declaration on Tobacco Control.

Contact: Rebecca Gunn, Public Health Manager and Priti Gohil, Health Improvement Practitioner Advanced

Rebecca Gunn, Public Health Manager and Priti Gohil, Health Improvement Practitioner Advanced, provided an update on the Local Declaration on Tobacco Control.  The Board was informed that the update would focus on the local declaration on tobacco control, which the council had recently signed up to, what that means and what is being done locally.

The Board was shown information on the local picture of tobacco in Kirklees as follows: (prevalence data)

-   Higher smoking prevalence is associated with almost every indicator of deprivation or marginalisation and is more common among people with a mental health condition, people with lower incomes, people experiencing homelessness, people in contact with the criminal justice system, people who live in social housing, people without qualifications, lone parents, and LGBT people

-  Just over 12% of the adult population in Kirklees smoke (2020), however, that is higher in certain wards within the district which mirror areas of highest deprivation

-  Smoking costs Kirklees £121 million a year including NHS provision (ASH, ready reckoner). The impact is seen within primary care and within social care with smokers requiring more support from those services earlier

-  The average smoker in Kirklees spends £2000 per year on cigarettes

-  Smoking is the leading cause of preventable cancer, and there is the intergenerational impact, in terms of where children live in households with smokers, they are more likely to take up smoking later in life

-  Smoking is an addiction, and as much as it can be perceived as a lifestyle choice the majority of smokers do want to quit

The Board was informed that the Council has signed up to the Local Declaration on Tobacco Control.  It is a statement of commitment that the council is committed to taking comprehensive action to address the harms of smoking.

The declaration requires the Council to:

1.       Act at a local level to reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities to raise the profile of the harm caused by smoking to our communities, and in so doing support delivery of the national smokefree 2030 ambition

2.       Develop plans with our partners and local communities to address the causes and impacts of tobacco use

3.       participate in local and regional networks for support

The Board was informed that over the last 12 to 18 months, work has been undertaken to commission a vaping device offer within the stop smoking services. 

The evidence is supportive of use of vaping devices, as part of a quit attempt for adults who smoke, and that is within recognised Nice guidance.  That is available within the Wellness Service and within Aunty Pams, and will be rolled out in other areas, for example Employee Healthcare.

Work is being carried out within schools, undertaking some insight work with young people, their parents, and teachers in North Kirklees regarding attitudes to smoking a vape.  The aim is to reduce it to 5% in line with the national target and around empowering people to create those safe and positive changes that they need.

The framework for Tobacco Control Alliance are based around three strands, supporting people who smoke to stop, preventing people from starting smoking and smokefree Kirklees. The local declaration was recently signed off by the Chief Executive, Director for Public Health, and the Leader of the council.

RESOLVED:

That Rebecca Gunn and Priti Gohil be thanked for providing an update on the Local Declaration on Tobacco Control.