Issue - meetings

The Health and Wellbeing Board gave consideration to a report which provided an update on tobacco control across Oldham.  On 14^th March 2017, the Board agreed outcomes and actions for Oldham’s Tobacco Control Action Plan and a vision to create a smoke free borough.  The outcomes were to reduce the number of tobacco users in Oldham; reduce exposure to second-hand smoke (focussing on children and young people) and reduce tobacco related health inequalities. 

The Board were requested to note progress against the three actions set out in the Tobacco Control Action Plan.  The tree actions were:

·         To complete the first phase of the CLeaR process;

·         Review the Council’s smoking policy; and

·         Reduce the number of women who smoke during pregnancy.

The Board were requested to commit continued support of the Tobacco Control agenda which included:

·         Consideration of the next steps of the CLeaR self-assessment process;

·         Support to the implementation of the CURE project in Royal Oldham Hospital;

·         Support to the continuation of the Supporting a Smokefree Pregnancy Scheme; and

·         Support to the improvement of access to stop smoking treatments including e-cigarettes.

The report provided a current position on the three priorities which included the option to invite a ‘peer-assessment team’ to make a report for the Council to decide how to move forward, the Council smoke free policy which would go live on 1^st April 2019 and support for a Smokefree Pregnancy Scheme (SaSFPS).

The report also outlined CURE (Conversation, Understand, Replace, Experts and Evidence-base treatments).  The Greater Manchester tobacco control plan, Making Smoking History (MSH) advocated a comprehensive whole system approach to tackling tobacco.  The CURE programme was an integral component of delivering the plan and was included in its strategy.  Rollout had begun with the launch of CURE at Wythenshawe Hospital in October 2018.  Royal Oldham Hospital was in the first wave of hospitals asked to rollout out CURE and an initiation meeting had been scheduled for 10^th April 2019. 

In October 2018, Oldham had launched the annual Stopober campaign with an event hosted by the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Turning Point, Positive Steps and Oldham Council.  The event included an official signing of a partnership agreement between the organisations which encouraged close partnership working and a set out a number of objectives.

The report also set out the latest findings related to E-cigarettes which concluded electronic cigarettes generated higher quit rates than nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), e-cigarettes achieved this at a much lower cost; and e-cigarettes starter packs should become one of the Stop Smoking Services (SSS) treatment options.

It was noted that the number of people accessing the stop smoking services had decreased year on year, both locally and nationally.  Stop smoking services had been in existence for almost 20 years, models of delivery had evolved but some of the processes and mechanisms that supported delivery had not developed.  People who continued to smoke were some of the most addicted smokers who required more intensive support and easier  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10