Have your say on historic measures to reduce the harm caused by smoking
Residents, employers and health professionals are urged to play their part in a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve health in Cheshire West and Chester.
Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting and encouraging people to respond to the government's consultation, Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping, which opened on 12 October 2023.
Fewer people in Cheshire West and Chester smoke than ever before but, sadly, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable ill-health and early death. It currently kills around 64,000 people in the UK each year. This is why reducing smoking continues to be a key objective within Cheshire West and Chester Council's Health Improvement Strategy.
Achieving a smokefree generation will significantly reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes throughout people's lives.
In recent years there also has been an increase in the number of young people vaping. The use of e-cigarettes to help people stop smoking has been acknowledged by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as an effective aid for those who currently smoke however, national guidance is that people who do not smoke, should not vape.
Smoking remains an addiction which is largely taken up in childhood, with the majority of smokers starting as teenagers. Discouraging young people from smoking and vaping remains a priority for the government and the Council.
Cllr Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health), said:
I've been a smoker on and off since I was a teenager. This October I went to use our smoke free services at Brio and had my first appointment. It's not easy but my appointment was brilliant, and the lady helped me to work out a plan that was best for me. Stopping smoking is really important to me as a mum of three teenagers and newly appointed Cabinet member for Public Health. I honestly wish I had never started. Anything that makes it harder for young people to fall into the trap of starting smoking is well worth doing.
Dr Helen Bromley, the Director of Public Health for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a real difference to inequalities and transform health for all of us. I would encourage everyone to take the time to read the historic package of measures in the proposal and respond to the consultation, which is open to anyone, of any age in the UK. This is our best chance to reduce the harms caused by smoking and prevent ill-health, disability and death.
Full details of the proposal and the consultation response page:
Giving up is not easy but you are four times more likely to quit with support from a stop smoking advisor. Quitting smoking remaining one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. When you stop smoking good things start to happen - quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily and give you more money to spend.
However, if the time is not right to start your quit journey Cheshire West and Chester's stop smoking service operates throughout the year. For further information and how to access support visit: cheshirechangehub.org or call: 0300 777 0033.