Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

The report provides the Board with an update on the work of the Stockport Tobacco Alliance in implementing the CLeaR recommendations. The Board previously considered the outcomes of the CLeaR Review in November 2014 (a copy of the report and CLeaR report are attached).

The Board is invited to note and comment on the progress report.

Officer contact Mary Brooks, 0161 474 2455, mary.brooks@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Board with an update on the work of the Stockport Tobacco Alliance in implementing the CLeaR recommendations. The Board previously considered the outcomes of the CLeaR Review in November 2014.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

•        There was some scepticism about the value of re-establishing the Alliance, but broad membership and focussed work had demonstrated how effective it could be.

•        The public were aware of the lethal dangers of smoking, but were they aware of the other life changing side-effects such as dementia. It was commented that cessation trainers were aware of, and did, highlight these risks.

•        There remained a clear divide in take-up and cessation levels based on inequality. There was a certain fatalistic attitude within some communities meaning that public health messages had less traction. It was important to ensure that messages were innovative and could tackling these prevailing social norms.

•        The Alliance had a long debate about the e-cigarettes, given the finely balanced arguments on both sides, but the Alliance were recommending them as a smoking cessation aid, but also recommending that they be banned from the workplace.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.