Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report that provided an update on the on development of an over arching Tobacco Control Strategy for the Borough.

It was noted that the Strategy formed part of the Tobacco Control Project funded by Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF). Tobacco consumption was recognised as being a significant contributor towards ill health and premature mortality. Therefore, specific strategies were being devised to target BME residents and residents’ living in deprived areas as there was often a greater level of tobacco consumption amongst these groups.

Smoking cessation classes were also being held specifically for BME groups and vulnerable adults.  

In response to a question the Board was advised that the Performance Management system in place to monitor the performance of the PCT would ensure that the figures that the information was based on were accurate. This information was also subject to audit.

It was requested that a meeting be held between the PCT’s Substance Abuse Team and the Council’s Drug and Alcohol Team to discuss this issue further. There was agreement that this would be useful.

The Chair noted that using schools as a forum to ensure that young people were given information regarding smoking was important and also provided a good method for engaging young people from BME backgrounds. In terms of engaging employers, the Chair noted that as part of other projects, exemplars were needed. This approach could be used to highlight employers who assisted supported employees to stop smoking.

RESOLVED:

That the specification and timescales attached to the project be noted.