Scotland's doctors unite in calls for smoke free public places
As the consultation period closes in Scotland and on the day that Ireland celebrates six months of smokefree public places, one thousand doctors in Scotland have written to the First Minister detailing the suffering and devastation smoking has on their patients and their families. Banning smoke in public places, which is what each of the letters call for, would reduce the illnesses and deaths caused by passive smoke.
Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland said: "Smoking remains the biggest single cause of preventable death in Scotland and if the Scottish Executive introduced smoke free enclosed public places, it would be the single most effective piece of public health legislation to be passed in the UK.
"Scotland can be one of the international leaders in public health strategies. These letters send a clear message from the medical profession and illustrate, very graphically, the ill health effects of exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.
"I have asked the First Minster to consider these letters as part of the Scottish Executive's consultation on smoking in public places."
Dr David Love, Joint Chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practice Committee added: "Continuing delays in legislating for smoke-free public places is indefensible. Scottish people, both smokers and non-smokers, are suffering from the effects of tobacco smoke now and international experience shows that comprehensive tobacco control programmes, supported with national legislation, work."
Dr Graeme Eunson, Joint Chairman of the BMA's Scottish Junior Doctors Committee said: "The effects of second hand smoking can affect people at any age. I work in paediatrics and I regularly see children with severe respiratory problems, many of which are exacerbated or even caused by exposure to second hand tobacco smoke."
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Notes to Editors
Drs Terry, Love and Eunson presented the letters to Mr Tom McCabe MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, who accepted the letters on behalf of the First Minister. Photographs are available from the BMA Scotland public affairs office, call 0131 247 3052 or email press.scotland@bma.org.uk
Extracts from some of the letters highlighting doctors comments on the effects of second hand smoke on their patients is also available from the BMA Scotland public affairs office.
The Scottish Executive's consultation into smoking in public places closes tomorrow (Thursday 30 September 2004).
The BMA urged 300 doctors to write a letter to the First Minister on this issue to represent the estimated 300 people who die every year in Scotland from second-hand tobacco smoke. Over 1000 letters were received.
Smoking kills 13,000 Scots each year from tobacco related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Passive smoke also kills hundreds of people each year in Scotland, causes heart disease and asthma, aggravates asthma in adults and is known to cause middle ear and respiratory infections in children and is linked to cot deaths.
The BMA estimates that each year in the UK, second-hand smoke kills at least 1,000 people
Second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer by 20 ? 30% and heart disease by 25 ? 35%
8 out of 10 asthmatics say second-hand smoke can trigger an attack
In the UK, more than a million people are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at work ? in Scotland only one third of workplaces are smoke-free
Bar workers' exposure is six times that of office workers
A quarter of 15 and 16 year olds in the UK smoke at least once a week
For more information please contact:
Scottish Press Office
Tel: 0131 247 3050/3052 Mobile: 07979 510421
Fax: 0131 247 3051
Email: press.scotland@bma.org.uk
BMA Scottish Office
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL
Tel: (0131) 247 3000
Fax: (0131) 247 3001
email: info.edinburgh@bma.org.uk
Web: www.bma.org.uk/scotland
After 6.00 pm and weekends:
07979 510421
Scoþia a medicilor uneascã pentru apeluri de fum liber locuri publice - Scotland's doctors unite in calls for smoke free public places - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate