BATTLE has been declared on smoking in Warwickshire.
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and Warwickshire County Council have teamed-up in a bid to encourage smokers to quit the habit by signing the NHS Statement of Support for Tobacco Control. The document has been developed to allow health chiefs to support council colleagues in their tobacco control work.
By signing the statement SWFT has publicly committed to play an active role in planning and support all efforts in Warwickshire to help people stop smoking.
SWFT chief executive Glen Burley said: “One of our key objectives focuses on empowering local people to manage their own health and wellbeing and stopping smoking is one of the best ways to do this.
“We demonstrated our commitment to reducing the negative impact of smoking when we implemented our Smoke Free Sites policy on 1 January 2015.
“By signing this statement we’re signifying that we will work in partnership with our Public Health partners at Warwickshire County Council as we continue to reduce smoking.
Council leader Izzi Seccombe added it was important to continue to help people give up smoking.
She added: “We welcome the commitment that SWFT has made in supporting tobacco control work in Warwickshire and look forward to continue to work in partnership to promote a smoke free environment.”
The Declaration has also been widely endorsed by leading figures and organisations in the public health community including NHS England, Public Health England and the British Medical Association.
