|
|
|
|
Senior doctors are pleading with the public to help prevent a second wave of coronavirus that could “devastate” the NHS, amid concern at mixed government messages about face masks and returning to work.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said a second peak, combined with a seasonal flu outbreak, could be “devastating for the NHS” and voiced criticism of government guidance on the use of face coverings. Masks will be compulsory in shops in England from this Friday (24 July), with a £100 fine for those who flout the law. But they are not being required in offices.
Last week, senior doctors and scientists convened by the Academy of Medical Sciences said a second wave could kill 120,000 people in a worst-case scenario. Three days later, the prime minister floated the possibility of a return to normality by Christmas. He also announced that from 1 August the instruction to work from home where possible will be lifted, in apparent conflict with the chief scientific officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, who told MPs he could see “absolutely no reason to change”.
Prof Carrie MacEwen, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: “… If we get a second surge it could be bigger than the last one, and economically that could cripple us, and it could damage the NHS in the long-term, especially with the backlog [of elective care, including cancer care] and flu. Going into winter, the situation is much bleaker [than handling a pandemic in spring] and against a background of economic disaster. The public has begun to think we are free of this, but we are not.”
Source: The Guardian, 20 July 2020
|
|
The European Union (EU) has decided that no official ‘climate benchmark’ can include companies heavily involved in fossil fuels, tobacco, controversial weapons, or those that violate the UN Global Compact following a consultation in April 2020. A climate benchmark is an investment benchmark that incorporates specific objectives related to greenhouse gas emission reductions and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The move comes in the final stage of creating two regulatory categories for climate benchmarks, which identify the fundamental characteristics that index providers should include when developing and running ‘green’ indices, in a bid to stop ‘greenwashing’.
The new changes are due to enter into force 20 days after being formally published in the EU statute book.
Source: Responsible Investor, 20 July 2020
|
|
Hannaford plans to phase out sales of tobacco products at all its 180-plus supermarkets, according to published reports.
Eric Blom, Hannaford spokesman, said: “The transition out of tobacco items will be completed this [Autumn], with the specific date for elimination varying by store,” noting that the grocer has “been moving away from tobacco items for some time, due to our commitment around health, reducing the number of items sold.”
Source: Progressive Grocer, 20 July 2020
|
|
Writing in Bloomberg Businessweek, Tiffany Kary, and Corrinne Gretler discuss why big tobacco is pitching oral nicotine as a reduced risk compared to traditional cigarettes.
There has been a steady decline of tobacco use due to health concerns and changing social norms surrounding traditional cigarettes. Such health concerns have created an opening for new oral nicotine and tobacco products. These new products do not require spitting and pouches are lodged between the gums and lips, sucked on discreetly, and easily discarded, making them more appealing to young or female consumers who have been averse to traditional snuff tobacco products.
Instagram continues to be one of the key marketing platforms for big tobacco. Some of these new Instagram-friendly oral products, known as dip, snuff, pouches, or snus, are being positioned as a replacement for cigarettes which the tobacco industry claims are less harmful and could help companies gain new, younger consumers protecting their profits.
Source: Bloomberg, 17 July 2020
|
|
During a House of Lords debate yesterday, (20 July), Baroness Northover, Lord Young, Lord Faulkner and Baroness Finlay tabled a cross-party amendment to the Business and Planning Bill 2019-21, which would have required new pavement licences to contain a smokefree licence condition. Following debate that amendment was withdrawn and Government amendment requiring businesses to make reasonable provision for smokefree seating.
Baroness Nortover said: “…Because of Covid-19, the outside is the new inside. We need to make sure that people are protected there as well—for their health, for staff serving them, for families and for unborn babies of pregnant women. Some 86% of people do not smoke … I am immensely encouraged that the Government are committed to England being smoke-free by 2030, which is defined as 5% of the population smoking. I was also delighted when Jo Churchill, the Health Minister, got in touch with me and made clear her own very strong personal commitment…I also thank the Government. I am very glad that they realised when it was flagged to them that they had completely overlooked the problem of smoking outside premises, and that they have now recognised that they need to address this issue.
“However, the Government’s so-called compromise is supported by FOREST, which is funded by the tobacco industry. That should send important signals to everyone. The problem with their amendment is: how do you stop smoke drifting over non-smokers, just as it did when different areas of pubs were designated in that way? Is it fair to expect proprietors to accommodate smokers, who are not likely to be the majority of their customers, yet whose activities will affect all of them? … Who will decide the regulations…The noble Lord, Lord Bethell, was asked earlier whether the Department of Health would lead on the guidance. He implied that that would not be the case. Is that so?
“…The Local Government Association, speaking on behalf of councils of all political persuasions, all 10 authorities in the Greater Manchester region, the cities of Liverpool and Newcastle, and Oxfordshire County Council, supports our cross-party amendment, because it will be good for business and protect public health by encouraging people to come back to pubs and restaurants without fearing an unpleasant and unsafe experience.
“I strongly commend Amendment 15, which I may vote on. It was drawn up not by me but by that outstanding campaigning organisation, ASH, working with local government, and it is the right thing to do. I look forward to hearing the Government’s response.”
Lord Young of Cookham said: “… my noble friend Lord Howe, emollient and with an impeccable public health record. He has tabled an amendment which goes a long way towards what we were arguing for and wrote a helpful letter to noble Lords today. I pay tribute to his role in listening to last week’s debate and moving government policy forward on this issue. …
“I will make one point about the guidance referred to in the noble Earl’s amendment. Given that many pubs have already made provision for smokers on their own premises—usually canopies with patio heaters—I hope the guidance will say that where this is the case, any extension to the pavement should be smoke-free, since there is already somewhere for the smokers to go.”
Lord Faulkner of Worcester said: “My Lords, yesterday’s press release from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated: “People using pubs, restaurants and cafés will soon have greater freedom to choose non-smoking outdoor areas”, a laudable objective that is consistent with the cross-party Amendment 15, which I have signed…
“… As I indicated in Committee last week, our amendment enjoys strong cross-party support from the Local Government Association, which represents local councils in England and has asked the Government to make pavements smoke-free. Birmingham Labour councillor Paulette Hamilton, vice-chair of the LGA’s community well-being board, is urging your Lordships to give councils the power to extend smoke-free areas to include pavements, so that “this alfresco summer can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff said: “ … My Lords, Amendment 15, to which I have added my name, seems to be the best way to avoid the Government throwing away the hard-won gains in public health that smoking reduction strategies have achieved to date. There is now clear evidence of the benefits from our legislation, which has banned smoking in public places. The benefits of ending passive smoking are to the heart, the vascular system, and the lungs. The strongest evidence of the health benefits of making places smoke-free is in those working in pubs. …
“COVID–19 is not simply a respiratory illness. It affects the heart, scars the lungs, increases the risk of thrombosis and can cause strokes. These are the same organs that are hit by tobacco. It does not make public health sense to spend billions on treating COVID and ignore the call from the Local Government Association to impose a ban on smoking at pub seating. … I hope the House will support Amendment 15.”
Source: Hansard, 20 July 2020
|
|
On Monday (20 July) Lord Faulkner of Worcester ask an oral question in the House of Lords on how the Government plans to achieve the ambition of making England smokefree by 2030. Follow-up questions were asked by a cross-party range of peers, including question on the Government’s plans to reduce smoking in pregnancy and tackle health inequalities and Government guidance on smokefree areas outside pubs and restaurants.
Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to achieve their objective of making England smoke-free by 2030.
Answered by Lord Bethell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
The Government are moving fast on several fronts to address the issue of smoking. That is why we have brought forward the prevention Green Paper and the tobacco control plan. COVID has offered an opportunity for more people to give up smoking, which is why we have instituted the Quit for Covid plan.
Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester
When will the Government publish their response to the prevention Green Paper consultation? Will today's proposed guidance for smoke-free areas outside pubs and restaurants be agreed with his department, the DHSC? Will it be published before the House rises and will it be subject to parliamentary scrutiny?
Answered by Lord Bethell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
My Lords, the government Green Paper published on 19 July is an extremely complex proposal. That is why we are considering it in great detail. It addresses the urgent need to tackle the disproportionate amount of smoking in deprived areas and among marginal communities. We are engaged with those communities to figure out what will work best. When we have those answers, we will publish our reply.
Source: Hansard, 20 July 2020
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
