A Call to Action: Successful Tobacco Control for the Future

Conference Speakers

Andrew Jones

Andrew Jones - Director of Health Improvement / Regional Director of Public Health - National Public Health Service for Wales

Andrew Jones graduated with First Class honours in Environmental Health from the University of Wales, Cardiff before obtaining a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff. Andrew worked at a senior level in local government within Wales before being accredited as a 'generalist specialist' in public health in December 2003 when he became the first individual to be accepted onto the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists. He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK and a member, with chartered status, of the UK Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Andrew was appointed as a Consultant in Public Health for the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) in 2003. He held a portfolio of responsibilities which included being the Local Public Health Director for two Local Health Boards in North Wales and leading one of the NPHS national resource teams. In July 2007, Andrew was appointed bby the NPHS as Regional Director (North Wales)/Director of Health Improvement.

Abstract Title: The development of a national smoking cessation programme.

Wales has a National Public Health Service (NPHS) which provides the resources, information and advice to enable the Welsh Assembly Government, Health Commission Wales, Local Health Boards, Local Authorities and NHS Trusts to discharge their statutory public health functions.
To do this, the NPHS delivers a full range of public health services, seeking to: Improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales and reduce inequalities in health; Protect against existing, new and emerging diseases and health threats; and Contribute to improvement in health and social care services. This model of public health is unique in the way it has brought together all public health services with an ability to work nationally and locally.

The Stop Smoking Wales Service is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and is an integral part of the NPHS. The service is led by the Director of Health Improvement (RDPH) and is part of the managed approach to health improvement activity. As such the service is able to contribute to a range of priorities for improving health and addressing health inequalities including tobacco control programmes.

The Stop Smoking Wales service provides support programmes for adult smokers who want help to give up using evidence based intervention. The service is co-ordinated across three regions within Wales to ensure consistent delivery. In addition the service is supported by the full range of specialist public health advice and support services within the NPHS including, consultant in public health, public health practitioner, pharmaceutical public health, primary medical care, health information and analysis, communication and marketing. The service has developed close links with Local Public Health Directors and their teams and works closely with partners and stakeholders in the NHS, local government and voluntary sector.

Following the ban on smoking in public places in Wales during 2007, the Stop Smoking Wales Service has had its most successful year to date. It has helped more people to give up smoking than in any previous year and has also made an appropriate contribution to multiagency tobacco control initiatives at both national and local levels.

Wales however has very high levels of self reported smoking. 25% of adults have reported that they smoke (around 600,000 people). There is a wealth of evidence showing that this level of smoking is a major cause of avoidable illness and premature mortality. 6,000 people per year die prematurely in Wales. The challenge remains to help as many people to give up smoking as possible and to address inequalities in health.

To address the challenge detailed work is being undertaken to develop, improve and target the service. Initially priorities include the targeting of pre-operative patients, young women (including smoking during pregnancy), smoking and deprivation and vulnerable groups.

The NPHS is a learning organisation and is committed to gaining experience from other services and developing its own services so as to fulfil the vision of 'One Wales' of providing world-class services for the people of Wales.

This presentation will outline the achievements and continuing development of a national smoking cessation programme