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** 10 September 2024
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** UK
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** England spent £40bn less on health assets than peer nations, report to say (#2)
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** Landlord fears outdoor smoking ban will 'kill' pubs (#1)
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** Government warned of public health risk after ad campaign funding cut (#3)
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** International
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** Republic of Ireland: Cabinet to hear proposals to ban disposable and flavoured vapes (#4)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Layla Moran to chair high-profile health and social care select committee (#5)
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** Bob Blackman elected as Chair of Backbench Business Committee (#6)
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** Written Answers: smoking and vaping (#7)
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** UK
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** England spent £40bn less on health assets than peer nations, report to say

England has spent almost £40bn less than peer countries on health assets and infrastructure since the 2010s, stunting NHS modernisation and exacerbating care backlogs, an official review into the health service will say this week.

Lord Ara Darzi will note in his government-commissioned report that had England matched Germany, France, Australia and other comparable countries over the past 15 years, it would have allotted an extra £37bn of capital expenditure to land, buildings and equipment, said people close to the surgeon and former health minister.

The report, due to be published on Thursday, will argue that this spending could have modernised technology such as MRI machines and CAT scanners and significantly cut waiting lists for routine care, the people said.

The money could have “paid for the 40 new hospitals that were promised but which have yet to materialise”, the report will say, referring to a pledge by then prime minister Boris Johnson, and could have “rebuilt or refurbished every GP practice”.

“Instead, we have crumbling buildings, mental health patients being accommodated in Victorian-era cells . . . and parts of the NHS operating in decrepit portacabins,” Darzi will add.

Since taking office in July, health secretary Wes Streeting has repeatedly said the NHS is “broken” and in need of reform, as well as promising to tackle waiting lists for non-urgent treatment, which stood at 7.6mn in May.

But senior health figures warned the new Labour government, which asked Darzi to assess the state of the health service, not to follow a similar playbook to the Tories after it said in July that it would pause investment in the long-awaited new hospitals programme (NHP).

The Department of Health and Social Care said Darzi’s report would “make clear that the challenges facing the NHS aren’t about money alone, but how money is often not spent effectively”.

“We can’t undo the mistakes of the past, nor can we ignore the £22bn black hole in the public finances. And we will make clear that reform is crucial to make taxpayers’ money go further,” the department added.

Source: Financial Times, 10 September 2024

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** Landlord fears outdoor smoking ban will 'kill' pubs

The landlord of a Derby music venue and bar fears government plans to toughen rules on outdoor smoking will "kill pubs".
Paul Keenan, who runs the Hairy Dog in the city centre, estimates he will lose around 20% of his revenue if the ruling comes in.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has confirmed the government is considering the move to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to tobacco use.

The details are not set in stone but smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, outside hospitals and sports grounds.

The prime minister previously said "we have got to take action" to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Mr Keenan said takings are down 30% on last year and a smoking ban would hit takings further.

"It's not going to do anything for the NHS. It will just stop people coming out who used to come out and they'll just sit indoors and smoke instead."

Nationally, health professionals have welcomed the proposals.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the public expected "not to have to breathe in tobacco smoke in places like children's play areas and seating areas outside pubs, restaurants and cafés".
But she added it was important to ensure there were still outdoor areas for people to "smoke in the open air, rather than inside their homes".

Source: BBC News, 9 September 2024
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** Government warned of public health risk after ad campaign funding cut

The Scottish Government is being warned that cuts to advertising and marketing campaigns could lead to a massive public health crisis.

Adverts that urged Scots to get their flu vaccine, check for cancer symptoms and warnings about the dangers of drunk driving have been impacted by the budget cuts put in place by finance secretary Shona Robison last week.

John McLellan, the director of Newsbrands Scotland which represents the newspaper industry in Scotland, has serious concerns over both the problems it will cause to the media landscape as well as the health risks it brings.

The bigger risk is what it could do to people’s health with Mr McLellan warning that cancelled campaigns – which provide essential public information – will “result in the deaths of vulnerable elderly people”.

In an open letter to the Government over the cuts, Mr McLellan said: “With the SNP cutting £500 million from Scottish Government budgets, including £115.8 million from health and social care, I doubt many readers will worry too much about the cancellation of their advertising and marketing campaigns.

They campaigns contain “essential public information, not least of which is the real risk that the absence of a winter flu vaccination awareness programme will result in the deaths of vulnerable elderly people who have not been prompted to get their boosters.”

“Health campaigns like the ‘Early Bird’ cancer detection initiative by Healthier Scotland and NHS Scotland, are crucial for encouraging people, particularly in more deprived communities, to get themselves checked.”

“Both examples show advertising can help save lives”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government freeze on public sector marketing expenditure for the remainder of the year is a necessary decision to ensure we have a balanced budget.

“It is inaccurate to suggest that all public health marketing campaigns have been paused. Indeed, Public Health Scotland will continue to undertake targeted communications work for vaccine programmes, including Winter Flu, to ensure those who are eligible for vaccinations are aware and encouraged to take them up. The Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early campaign launched last month.”

Source: The Herald, 10 September 2024

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** International
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** Republic of Ireland: Cabinet to hear proposals to ban disposable and flavoured vapes

Plans to ban disposable vapes and flavoured vapes are expected to be signed off by Cabinet this Tuesday morning.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is expected to get Government approval to draft laws to ban the one-time use e-cigarettes on environmental and public health grounds. Sources told the Irish Mirror that it is hoped these changes can be introduced “as soon as possible”.

It is understood that under the proposed laws, there will be a complete ban on the sale, manufacture or import of single-use or disposable vapes in Ireland. It is also understood that Mr Donnelly is concerned that the products sold in Ireland contain the maximum permitted levels of nicotine (20mg) and “on their own are not an effective means of quitting cigarette smoking”.

Mr Donnelly’s legislation will also introduce a ban on flavoured nicotine-inhaling products that one source argued “often appeal to children”. It is estimated that as many as 15,000 flavour combinations exist. Mr Donnelly also wants to place restrictions on colours and imagery on packages to ensure they are not aimed at younger people.

Source: Irish Mirror, 10 September 2024

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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Layla Moran to chair high-profile health and social care select committee

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has been appointed to a high profile position as chair of the health and social care select committee.

Ms Moran, who stood unopposed, succeeds Conservative MP Steve Brine, who stood down as an MP in the 2024 general election.

Ms Moran chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus during the pandemic, hearing from expert medical witnesses and patients and often leading scrutiny of government decision-making during a turbulent time.

Source: Yahoo News, 10 September 2024

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** Bob Blackman elected as Chair of Backbench Business Committee 

Bob Blackman has been elected unopposed as Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.

Source: UK Parliament, 9 September 2024

Editorial note: Bob Blackman was Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Heath in the last parliament.

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** Written Answers: smoking and vaping

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** Question, Rachael Maskell (Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to consult relevant organisations on proposals to ban smoking in outdoor spaces.

Answer

Andrew Gwynne:

The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom. The Prime Minister supports measures that will create a smokefree environment, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.

Any proposed changes to smoke-free legislation would be subject to Parliament as well as a full public consultation and further engagement with relevant organisations. More details will be set out shortly.The Government provides significant funding to local stop smoking services across the country, and funds marketing campaigns such as Stoptober which sign-posts smokers to quitting support, one of the best things a smoker can do for their health.

Question, Rachael Maskell (Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ban vaping in indoor spaces.

Answer

Andrew Gwynne:

Whilst vapes can be an effective quitting aid for adult smokers, the Government is concerned about the worrying rise in vaping among children, and there are legitimate concerns about the unknown long-term harms from vaping. The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will reduce the appeal, access, and availability of vapes to children. We will set out more details shortly.

Question, Rachael Maskell (Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to evaluate the lung cancer diagnostic programme, and if he will roll this programme out to provide greater access for people who present a risk of lung cancer.

Answer

Andrew Gwynne:

The Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) is aimed at people who are over 55 years old, but younger than 75 years old, and who have a history of smoking, which puts them at a higher risk of lung cancer. The TLHC will be converted into a national lung cancer screening programme, which will be rolled out nationally by 2030.The programme is currently being monitored by NHS England who are reviewing data gathered from the programme and quality assuring it. This data includes information on how many checks have been performed, along with invitations sent, and demographic information. Standards for the programme are being developed, for when the programme is fully rolled out.


Question, Kim Leadbeater (Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update the guidance on Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces, published by Public Health England in July 2016; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of further restrictions on vaping in public spaces.

Answer

Andrew Gwynne:

The Government is concerned about the worrying rise in vaping among children, and there are legitimate concerns about the unknown long-term harms from vaping. Whilst the evidence base on second-hand vaping is still developing, and is less strong than smoking, the degree of harm is unlikely to be 0%. There are no current plans to update the guidance on the use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces, published by Public Health England in July 2015.However, the Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will reduce the appeal, access, and availability of vapes to children, including by banning vape advertising and branding. We will set out more details very soon.
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