http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/wales.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/03/16/one-in-five-women-in-wales-smoke-while-pregnant-91466-26039044/ http://tobacco.org/news/298557.html WALES has the highest rates of women who smoke during their pregnancy in the UK, shocking figures reveal today. Despite the social taboo, the figures from anti-smoking charity ASH Wales show one-in-five women continue to smoke throughout pregnancy. Midwives said many young women are smoking while pregnant because they believe they will have smaller "doll-like" babies. Helen Rogers, the Royal College of Midwives' board secretary for Wales, said: "Years ago women thought if they continued to smoke they wouldn't put on as much weight and they would have smaller babies that are easier to deliver. "I thought that thinking had been educated out of existence but it hasn't - there are a lot of teenagers who, to be in with the in- crowd, are smoking. "They are getting pregnant and continuing to smoke because their peers are smoking. "It's about keeping pretty, keeping slim and having tiny, doll-like babies. No matter how much midwives say smoking is bad, it's very hard to get that message through." WalesOnline UK-Wales Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=111297&catid=1251 http://tobacco.org/news/298347.html "Banning smoking (or, in this case, vaping) in pubs is like a teashop banning cakes. It is illogical." That's the message from Jean Rasbridge of E Cigarette Direct in an open letter to Humphrey Smith of Sam Smith's Breweries, after Mr Smith decided to ban electronic cigarettes in his pubs. Mr Smith acknowledged in a circular to his staff that the electronic cigarette was legal to smoke indoors, but felt that it should be banned on the basis of its resemblance to real cigarettes. A customer of E Cigarette Direct then wrote to Jean complaining that they could no longer smoke the NJOY electronic cigarette in the pub. OfficialWire inijames@gmail.com (James Dunworth) UK-Wales Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2010/03/08/break-free-is-the-message-of-this-year-s-no-smoking-day-91466-25981975/ http://tobacco.org/news/298030.html As No Smoking Day approaches, Wales' chief medical officer Dr Tony Jewell is encouraging smokers to give up and break free WHILE one in four adults in Wales smokes, we know the majority of smokers want to give up. This is an encouraging sign and it's where No Smoking Day can lend a helping hand. For more than a quarter of a century, No Smoking Day has been the biggest public health event of its kind and last year around a million smokers across the UK used it as their day to try to quit smoking. The theme for this year's campaign, on Wednesday, is "Break free - we can help". It's about inspiring and enabling smokers to escape from their addiction by seeking help. The key message here is that you don't have to go it alone. There is plenty of support available if you're thinking about quitting. WalesOnline UK-Wales Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=18464 http://tobacco.org/news/295436.html Smoking enforcement officers in Swansea are urging drivers of work based vehicles to avoid lighting up and smoking in their vehicles. The advice follows a court case which resulted in a local taxi driver paying out over £600 after being found guilty of three offences relating smoking in a smoke free place. Smoking enforcement officers confirmed that the driver previously received a written warning and a fixed penalty for two offences in 2007 and 2008. The latest offences occured between May and August 2009 and resulted in a fine of £525 and included further costs of £85 and a £15 victim surcharge. NewsWales enquiries@newswales.co.uk UK-Wales Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/28/quit-plan-helps-one-in-two-stop-smoking-91466-25478536/ http://tobacco.org/news/294672.html A STOP smoking scheme has helped more than half of those who took part in a treatment programme to quit the habit. New figures show more than 15,000 people contacted Stop Smoking Wales for advice last year and more than half went on to take part in a six-week support programme to help them stop. And 4,440 - more than 50% - of these had stopped smoking when they were contacted four weeks later. The figures, published in Stop Smoking Wales' annual report, also show there was a 20% increase in people contacting the free service in 2008-09. Andrew Jones, director of health improvement, for the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: "The information in the annual report shows the continuing development of smoking cessation services across Wales. "A recent study has shown smoking costs the NHS in Wales around £386m - that's the equivalent of £129 per head or 7% of the total healthcare expenditure in Wales. "Helping people to stop smoking is not only cost effective, but more importantly it has immediate and significant health benefits for individuals, families, communities and the population as a whole." WalesOnline UK-Wales Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174251.php http://tobacco.org/news/294618.html Wales' Chief Medical Officer has warned that preventing disease and illness is the key to a healthy future generation. Dr Tony Jewell issued the warning as he published his third annual report on the state of health in Wales. Dr Jewell writes about 'preventing the preventable' in his 2008 report. The report looks at different methods of prevention to ensure the long-term health of the nation, including immunisation, screening and education. He said that more emphasis needed to be placed on preventing ill-health in the first place. . . . Dr Jewell also points out some successes of the past year, including: - The effect of the smoking ban. Research commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government shows clear evidence of a reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly in pubs, clubs, bars and at work, meaning the legislation has achieved its main objective to reduce environmental tobacco smoke. Also encouraging is that the studies found no evidence of any shift of smoking to the home, or of increased exposure to children. Hospital admissions for heart attacks were reduced in 2008* and although this decline cannot be wholly attributed to the smoking ban, some studies suggest that at least some of the reduction is due to the legislation. Medical News TODAY UK-Wales Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2009/12/22/couple-lucky-to-be-alive-after-cigarette-starts-house-fire-in-dolgellau-55578-25444551/ http://tobacco.org/news/294444.html A CIGARETTE left smouldering near an armchair sparked a house blaze that left an elderly woman needing hospital treatment. The woman and her husband, both in their 70s, were upstairs sleeping when they were woken by the smell of smoke seeping up from downstairs at their home in Dolgellau. . . . North Wales Fire and Rescue Service senior officer Glyn Jones blasted people who ignore fire safety advice. He said: . . . “What we saw in the incident is the failure of smokers to take responsibility of discarding their cigarettes carefully. “This can put their lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk. “Last year in Wales, 13 people died and 10-a-month were injured in smoking-related home fires. “Many fires happen at night when people fall asleep or smoke in bed and furniture or fabrics are set alight. Worryingly, research shows smokers are less likely than non-smokers to have working smoke alarms . . . “If you have elderly relatives or friends who are smokers, make them aware of the dangers.” Daily Post North Wales UK-Wales Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/8424095.stm http://tobacco.org/news/294440.html Ignorance of basic fire safety will continue to claim lives, says a fire officer after a woman was taken to hospital early on Monday morning. The woman, in her 70s, and her husband were woken by the smell of smoke at their property in Dolgellau, Gwynedd. The fire appears to have been started by a discarded cigarette. . . . Last year in Wales, 13 people died and 10 people a month were injured in smoking-related home fires. Many happen at night when people fall asleep or smoke in bed, and furniture or fabrics are set alight. "It is vital to make sure all smoking materials are put out safely, especially before bedtime," said Mr Jones. . . . FIRE PREVENTION ADVICE . . . Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, do not light up Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended BBC Online UK-Wales Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/lifestyle/health/health-news/2009/12/14/north-east-smokers-have-best-chance-of-quitting-72703-25385489/ http://tobacco.org/news/294167.html THANKS to dedicated NHS staff, smokers in the North East have one of the best chances in the country of quitting in the new year. Martin Green reports. MORE people die early and suffer ill health as a result of smoking in the North East than almost anywhere else in the country. People who quit say they have more money, their skin improves, their teeth improve, they smell better, they breathe easier and their food tastes better. And they are guaranteed to live longer and healthier lives. Going smoke-free is not easy - but Tyneside and Northumberland NHS stop-smoking services are among the best in the country, helping thousands of people each year to stop smoking. Newcastle Evening Chronicle/Chronicle Live UK-Wales Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/smoking_scheme_helps_two_a_week_1_650111?referrerPath=news/ http://tobacco.org/news/294165.html TWO people are giving up smoking every week in Cumbria after a new advice scheme was launched in local chemists. Figures from NHS Cumbria showed more than half of the county’s community pharmacies are signed up to the scheme in its first year. The scheme involves specially-trained pharmacists offering free advice and nicotine replacement therapies. Would-be quitters can make an appointment or just pop in to any pharmacy displaying the Become Smoke Free sign. Since the scheme began over 229 people have a set a quit date to stop smoking and 44 per cent of those managed to give up. North-West Evening Mail UK-Wales Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Health&F=1&id=18265 http://tobacco.org/news/294164.html New figures show that over 15,000 people contacted Stop Smoking Wales for advice on quitting smoking last yearand over 50 per cent of those who took part in the treatment programme were successful in giving up. The 2008-09 Annual Report from Stop Smoking Wales, run by the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS), shows steady progress with almost a 20 per cent increase in the number of clients contacting the free, NHS service during the last year. Figures show that 15,086 people across Wales contacted Stop Smoking Wales for advice, and more than half of these went on to take part in local six-week support programmes to help them stop smoking. Of the 7,697 people who took part in support programmes, 4,443 reported that they had completely quit smoking when they were followed up four weeks later. This means over 50 per cent of smokers have kicked the habit with the help of Stop Smoking Wales. This is in line with research which shows you are four times more likely to successfully quit smoking with the help of support programmes like Stop Smoking Wales than if you go it alone. NewsWales enquiries@newswales.co.uk UK-Wales Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Health&F=1&id=18241 http://tobacco.org/news/293922.html The NPHS Health Improvement and Health Inequalities Teams have produced a response to the Department of Transport proposal to ban smoking on ships. The NPHS fully supports the position that people working and travelling on ships should be protected from other peoples’ second-hand tobacco smoke. At present, the bans on smoking in public places in Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not cover ships. This is because ships fall under the regulation of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The Department of Transport are proposing some new legislation “Merchant Shipping (Prohibition of Smoking on Ships) Regulations” which aims to ban smoking in all areas on-board ships operating in the UK. People will only be allowed to smoke in specific zones approved by the ship’s Captain. NewsWales enquiries@newswales.co.uk UK-Wales Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=18200 http://tobacco.org/news/293793.html New funding worth more than £650,000 for smoking prevention was announced today by Health Minister Edwina Hart. The announcement comes as new figures show that the first full year of the smoking ban in Wales has heralded a steep decline in the number of heart attacks. A total of £155,000 over the next two years will go into the ASSIST programme, where health promotion experts train pupils to persuade their friends not to start smoking or to give up, and more than £500,000 will be allocated for wider smoking prevention activity. Some 58 schools have already benefited from the ASSIST programme, with another 8 currently completing this term. The new funding will allow a further 20 schools to benefit from the programme over the next two years. NewsWales enquiries@newswales.co.uk UK-Wales Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2009/12/07/smoking-ban-sees-fall-in-heart-attacks-in-wales-55578-25334961/ http://tobacco.org/news/293791.html NEW figures this week are expected to reveal how the first full year of the public smoking ban in Wales heralded a steep decline in heart attacks. The findings will be contained in the Chief Medical Officer for Wales’ annual report showing hospital admissions have fallen since the ban came into force. Health minister Edwina Hart will today announce £650,000 new funding for smoking prevention. A total of £155,000 over the next two years will go into the Assist programme, where health promotion experts train pupils to persuade their friends not to start smoking or to give up, and more than £500,000 will be allocated for wider smoking prevention activity. More than 50 schools have already benefited from the Assist programme, with another eight completing this term. The new funding will allow a further 20 schools to benefit from the programme over the next two years. . . . Mrs Hart also announced new funding worth £519,000 for wider smoking prevention, including £143,000 a year for ASH Wales over the next three years to enable the charity to continue raising awareness of the effects of smoking. A further £30,000 a year will also be provided to Ash Wales over the next three years to fund No Smoking Day activities and campaigns. Ash Wales chief executive Tanya Buchanan said: “The ban on smoking in public enclosed spaces was a positive step because it reduced people’s exposure to second hand smoke. Daily Post North Wales UK-Wales Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/07/assembly-funding-to-tackle-teenage-smoking-91466-25335021/ http://tobacco.org/news/293790.html A NEW drive to stop schoolchildren taking up smoking was today announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart. Ms Hart unveiled an additional £650,000 for smoking prevention, in a bid to further cut the number of smokers in Wales. A total of £155,000 over the next two years will go into the Assist programme, where health promotion experts train pupils to persuade their friends not to start smoking or to give up. An additional £519,000 will be allocated for wider smoking prevention activity. A total of 58 schools have already benefited from the Assist programme, with another eight currently completing this term. The new funding will allow a further 20 schools to benefit from the programme over the next two years. WalesOnline UK-Wales Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT