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Tobacco Induced Diseases is now freely available fulltext online.

Tobacco Induced Diseases, the official journal of the International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases, is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that encompasses all aspects of tobacco induced diseases and their prevention.

The aim of the journal is to further the development of the scientific basis for the biological effects of tobacco smoke and its active components and to describe the distribution of tobacco diseases throughout the world.

To read articles in the journal, go to:
http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.com/

or access via Biomed Central Journals A-Z at:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/browse/journals/#T

For more information about the journal, see:
http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.com/info/about/

This monthly bulletin covers national, regional and local (St Helens & Halton) news, events and other relevant information which relate to the six key areas of the 'Choosing Health' white paper, and some wider public health information.

Read the August 2008 bulletin here

The bulletin is produced collaboratively by the Health Improvement Library, the Primary Care Library, St Helens Health Partnership and Halton Health Promotion Service.

This monthly bulletin covers national, regional and local (St Helens & Halton) news, events and other relevant information which relate to the six key areas of the 'Choosing Health' white paper, and some wider public health information.

Read the July 2008 issue here

The bulletin is produced collaboratively by the Health Improvement Library, the Primary Care Library, St Helens Health Partnership and Halton Health Promotion Service.

This monthly bulletin covers national, regional and local (St Helens & Halton) news, events and other relevant information which relate to the six key areas of the 'Choosing Health' white paper, and some wider public health information.
Read the October issue here

The bulletin is produced collaboratively by the Health Improvement Library, the Primary Care Library, St Helens Health Partnership and Halton Health Promotion Service.

From the Health Informatics Community news web page (14 August):

City & Hackney GPs use Text Messaging to Engage with Smokers
http://www.informatics.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2446

Manchester NHS has launched a Stop Smoking campaign via SMS Text as part of the Stop Smoking Service Campaign.

People send an SMS text to the Stop Smoking Service and then receive a call providing them with a list of support options, including local trained pharmacists where they live, nearest drop in sessions and also to book appointments with specialist stop smoking advisors.

You can read the article on PublicTechnology.net

This publication brings together a range of indicators of health outcomes related to cancer in Gateshead. It also summarises trends in the uptake of screening programmes. The chapter is part of the 2005 Gateshead Compendium of Health Related Statistics.

Download Chapter 3 Cancer

From 1st July 2007 virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England will become smoke free. A smoke free England will ensure a healthier environment, so everyone can socialise, relax, travel, shop and work free from secondhand smoke. Smoking kills between 5.000 and 6.000 people across the North East region every year and breathing secondhand smoke also kills 35 of the region's workers each year.

Find out about the national campaign to promote the legislation at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk or telephone 0800 169 1697
For what's happening within the North East go to www.freshne.com
Gateshead Council can offer support for local businesses to help them comply with the legislation.

England goes smoke free on July 1st 2007. Peter Wright, Environmental Health and Trading Standards Manager for Gateshead Council discusses the benefits and implications for businesses and employers on this podcast....

Peter Wright discusses Smoke Free Gateshead (6.0MB mp3)

Second Choosing Health progress report
Department of Health, October 2006
Download report (84 pages)

Tabular report in topic sections showing Commitment/Action achieved in May 2006 report; Commitment/Action achieved in this report; Commitment/Action still outstanding

Factsheets covering specific topics on health improvement including the Public Service Agreement target areas specifically associated with the achievement of improvement of overall public health, and the reduction of health inequalities.

Download factsheets file
Contains the following 13 factsheets:

Alcohol misuse
Helping children and young people lead healthy lives
Diet and nutrition
Health inequalities
Health, work and well being
Obesity
Physical actvity
Sexual health
Tobacco
Workforce
Mental health
Social marketing
Local government & communities

or download individual factsheets from the Department of Health web site at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4139513

Sexual Health Awareness Week (12th to 18th February)
No Smoking Day (14th March)
Breastfeeding Awareness Week (13th to 19th May)
Cancer Prevention - Fruity Friday (25th May)
Heart Health Week (2nd to 10th June)
Immunisation Awareness Week (10th to 16th September)
World Mental Health Day (10th October)
Alcohol Awareness Week (10th to 16th December)

These health promotion campaigns will be promoted across the borough of Gateshead in 2007. To register to receive an awareness pack of resources please complete the attached Campaign Resources form.

Download campaigns and dates (PDF 70KB)
Download campaign resources order form (Word 30KB)

Following legislation passed in February, it was announced yesterday that ALL pubs and clubs in Gateshead (and everywhere else in England) will be smoke-free as from July 1st 2007. This will deliver a huge improvement in health. Non-smokers will no longer be forced to inhale second-hand smoke and smokers will be encouraged to kick the habit.

To give you something to do while we all wait for the law to come into force, tell us if your local pub has already gone smoke free. Tell us what you think about the legislation. If you are a health professional, what do your service users think of the change? Have your say by clicking on the "comment" link at the foot of this blog.

Debating Smoke-Free Policies in Psychiatric Units - King's Fund Report

Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke lead to poor physical health, yet there are concerns that extending the proposed ban on indoor smoking to psychiatric units would infringe patient rights and could provoke aggressive reactions from patients.

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of ill health and premature death in the UK. In 2005/06 the NHS Stop Smoking Service in Gateshead helped 1,500 people to successfully quit, measured four weeks after setting a quit date. This represents 4% of smokers in Gateshead. But is this service accessed equally by all sections of the population?

Read the full blog to find out about a recent Health Equity Audit which answered this question.

Cigarette box "wrappers" or "cigarette coupons" distributed to smokers at point of sale of cigarettes have been used very successfully by Lambeth PCT and the Greater Glasgow Health Board to promote local Stop Smoking Services. Lambeth PCT reported a 500% increase in the volume of calls to their local quit line. Glasgow also reported a large increase in calls.

Download an image of the coupon used in Glasgow (125KB)

Could this approach work locally? Post a comment and let other people know what you think.

Proposals to crack down on smoking amongst teenagers were recently unveiled by public health minister Caroline Flint. As part of the consultation you have the chance to add your views on the proposals.

Plans include increasing the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco and imposing tougher sanctions on retailers who persist in selling cigarettes to under-age teens. The consultation runs from Monday 3rd July to Monday 9th October 2006. Read the full blog to find out details of the proposals and how you can add your views.

In Gateshead 32% of adults smoke- that’s higher than the national average of 27%. In some parts of Gateshead over 50% of adults smoke. The proportions of men and women smoking are similar.
Smoking rates are lower among socio-economic class I, and rise successively through to the most disadvantaged classes IV and V. Although a lot of adults have given up smoking the number of adults who smoke has stopped
falling and more are starting. About 70% of current smokers would like to quit.

Download Factsheet (PDF:96KB)

Smoking cessation
Public health intervention guidance PHI 001
NICE, March 2006

You can download the Quick Reference Guide below:
Quick Reference Guide (4 pages)

Full the full guidance, in pdf and Word versions, patient information, background etc., go to the NICE web site at:
http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=PHI001

Summary of intelligence:

Tobacco

Landmark legislation passed in Parliament last night means that ALL pubs and clubs in Gateshead will be smoke-free as from Summer 2007. This will deliver a huge improvement in health. Non-smokers will no longer be forced to inhale second-hand smoke and smokers will be encouraged to kick the habit.

To give you something to do while we all wait for the law to come into force, tell us if your local pub has already gone smoke free. Tell If you are a health professional, what do your patients think of the change?

How do we achieve a Smoke-Free Gateshead?
We'd be really grateful if you could take some moments to reflect on the 3 key questions below. Then, please tell us your ideas, the more practical the contribution the better.

How can we reduce the numbers of people starting to smoke?

How can we increase the numbers of people stopping smoking?

How can we reduce exposure to second hand smoke?

Simply click the comments hyperlink below. For the Choosing Health event on July 11th you will not be required to sign up with TypeKey. Prior to this, please follow the on screen instructions.

Launch date:
20 June 2005

Closing date:
5 September 2005

Gateway Ref: 5063

In the White Paper Choosing Health - Making healthy choices easier, there is a commitment to consult widely on the process of drawing up the detailed legislation on smokefree public places.

The key areas covered in this consultation document, where comments and responses would be particularly welcomed, are:

* the definition of enclosed public place/workplace
* the definition of prepare and serve food
* exemptions in general
* placing of signage
* the offences, penalties and defences
* enforcement; and
* timetable.

Department of Health: Consultation webpage (and downloads)

Fresh aims to give you all the information you might need about tobacco issues in the North East.

Individuals as well as local authorities, public sector organizations, private businesses and others will find tobacco facts and information; details about smoke free environments - how to go smoke free, the benefits of effective smoke free policies and available support; stop smoking information and details of local stop smoking services; tobacco resources, and up to date news stories.

Regional action on tobacco is being driven by Fresh - Smoke Free North East. Fresh is funded by local primary care trusts and supported by voluntary and statutory organizations and aims to deliver a comprehensive and coordinated tobacco control programme across the region.

Check out the Gateshead section on Fresh: Smoke Free North East

Stop Smoking!

The Choosing Health journey continues...........

The next event on this journey will take place on 11th July 2005 between 12noon - 4.15pm

Click below for draft programme

Download file

If you have not yet registered to attend this event please contact Shelagh Cockburn Tel 0191 4971516

Smoke Free North East, and the publicity brand "FRESH" was launched on the 25th May.

The briefing on second hand smoke, which has comprehensive links to supporting research, is available to download HERE

I hope that this will be of use to some of you.

Peter Wright