Campaigners dismayed at unworkable partial smoking ban
pharmafile | October 28, 2005 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Â
Doctors and health campaigners have expressed their deep disappointment over the government's failure to introduce a complete smoking ban in public places in England.
After months of cabinet wrangling, with clear divisions being made public in the final days, the government has stopped short of the all-out ban favoured by groups such as the BMA and Cancer Research.
Instead, health secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced that special sealed smoking carriages will be introduced to pubs not serving food.
Even though the new laws will introduce an outright ban on smoking in all other work places, including restaurants and pubs serving food, and will be introduced earlier than planned in summer 2007, the decision has already been declared unworkable.
Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "We are utterly dismayed that the government has not listened to doctors, health charities and the public, all of whom have voiced overwhelming support for a smoke-free law without exemptions.
"The compromised law will be unworkable. It also sends out a terrible message that the government is prepared to protect the health of some workers while leaving others exposed to the seriously damaging effects of second-hand smoke.
"Sadly, people will die as a consequence of this half-hearted decision. The scandalous fact is that the government is fully aware of this, and is reneging on its fundamental duty to protect the people."
The plans for England are in stark contrast with the rest of the UK, with plans for total bans now advancing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Professor Markham concluded: "It is disgraceful that the people of England will not enjoy the health benefits afforded to those in other parts of the UK, where total bans are planned.
"We will continue to do all that we can to get these exemptions dropped."
Other measures
A number of other new health measures were announced in the new parliamentary bill.
A proposed hygiene code, to be overseen by the Healthcare Commission, will tackle hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA, which is linked to 1,000 deaths a year.
NHS trusts will have a legal duty to ensure standards on hand washing and ward cleaning are followed, with failing trusts risking warnings and intervention.
A new system for managing controlled drugs is to be introduced in response to the murders committed by Harold Shipman.
NHS managers will be given new powers to visit GP practices in order to assess the clinical performance of primary care staff.
Finally, the bill includes proposals for further reform of community pharmacy, allowing pharmacy assistants to dispense medicines, and thereby helping to free up pharmacists for a more clinical role.
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