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Health secretary abandons outdoor smoking ban and expands access to weight loss drugs
Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlines plans to widen access to weight loss drugs and enhance neighbourhood health services in the NHS 10-year plan. Amid these announcements, he admits defeat over the proposed ban on smoking in pub gardens following backlash. The Sun states that its readers had won the argument to keep these areas smoker-friendly. Regarding healthy eating, Streeting says he plans to encourage this through incentives rather than regulations.
Source: The Sun, 2 July 2025
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Government unveils shift to community care in new 10-year plan
The government has announced that the 10-year plan to transform the NHS in England will include moving more care out of hospitals and into local health centres. Around 200 neighbourhood hubs are set to be established, offering outpatient services such as scans, mental health support, and follow-up care. The aim is to improve access, reduce waiting times and deliver more personalised care closer to home, particularly in underserved areas.
While the plan includes £29bn in funding and proposals for new staffing and technology measures, concerns have been raised by professional bodies. The Royal College of Nursing warns that the plan will be unworkable without addressing the long-term decline in community nursing, while the British Medical Association questions how the new services will be staffed and funded.
Source: BBC News, 2 July 2025
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Smoking cessation scheme in Wolverhampton extended after positive results
The Swap to Stop initiative in Wolverhampton has been extended for another year after helping more than 130 people quit smoking in its first 12 months. The scheme, which provides free vaping starter kits alongside behavioural support, originally ran for 12 weeks at community locations including libraries and family hubs. It is part of a national effort to eliminate smoking in England by 2030 and has been commended for its early success in encouraging long-term cessation.
Source: BBC News, 3 July 2025
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WHO calls for 50% price increase on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco through taxation
The World Health Organization has urged countries to increase taxes on sugary drinks, alcohol, and tobacco by 50% over the next decade to reduce consumption and improve public health. This initiative aims to combat diseases such as diabetes and certain cancers, while also generating substantial revenue to support health systems amid declining development aid and rising public debt. The plan, supported by organisations including the World Bank and OECD, could raise up to $1 trillion by 2035. The WHO highlighted that many countries have already raised tobacco taxes significantly and is considering further measures on ultra-processed foods, despite anticipated industry opposition.
Source: Mail Online, 2 July 2025
See also: WHO - The 3 by 35 Initiative
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Tobacco end-game policies face mixed success amid push for smoke-free future
In this commentary piece published by Statista, the author examines recent global efforts to reduce smoking, highlighting new outdoor smoking bans in France and the challenges faced by countries like Bhutan and New Zealand in enforcing tobacco restrictions. Despite setbacks, many nations, including the UK, Portugal, Canada, and Australia, continue aiming to sharply reduce smoking rates through phased bans and stricter public smoking regulations. The World Health Organization reports significant progress, with tobacco control measures now covering around 75% of the global population and smoking rates declining from over 32% in 2000 to under 20% today. However, most smokers remain in middle- and low-income countries, underscoring ongoing public health challenges.
Source: Statista, 2 July 2025
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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