76 HEALTH MATTERS tobacco control
in the population. As smoking is more common among lower socio-economic groups, it exacerbates health inequalities. There are still a significant number of smokers in Ireland. The decrease in smoking rates that was evident between 1998 and 2002 has now ceased, with no reduction in smoking from 2002 to 2007. Overall rates for smoking were 33 per cent in 1998, 27 per cent in 2002 and 29 per cent in 2007. It is estimated that there were 940,000 adult smokers in Ireland in 2007.
TOBACCO CONTROL FRAMEWORK The Framework considers the best available international evidence base in tobacco control and is modelled on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008. The approach is called ‘MPOWER’ which stands for the six most important, effective and evidence-based tobacco control policies:
• Monitoring of tobacco use and prevention policies.
• Protecting people from second-hand smoke.
• Offering help to people who want to quit • Warning of the dangers of tobacco. • Enforcing bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
• Raising taxes on tobacco.
A TOBACCO-FREE POLICY FOR THE HSE The actions contained within the Framework, which will be progressed over the next five years, include the establishment of a tobacco-free policy for the HSE, both indoors and on health service grounds. This will require extensive consultation, planning and communication both from a management and staff point of view and will also amount to a huge cultural change for our service users and visitors. The consumption of tobacco is a personal lifestyle choice for individuals (including staff). However, as an organisation dedicated to ‘enabling people to live healthier and more fulfilled lives,’ the consumption of tobacco within and on the grounds of our facilities is incompatible with the health promotion message and service we wish to portray. Healthcare services
+ HSE staff pictured together recently at a tobacco free society conference in Dublin were (L-R): Dr. Fenton Howell, Director Public Health, Martina Blake, Project Manager, Health Promotion, Biddy O'Neil, Health Promotion Manager, and Maurice Mulcahy, Enviromental Health Officer.
need to take a leading role in the prevention and reduction of smoking. Tobacco-free rules contribute to a reduction in smoking. They prevent ex- smokers from starting again. They prevent second-hand smoking risks. They are also a major element in fire safety.
EXPANSION OF SMOKING CESSATION SUPPORT SERVICES Another action which helps us to achieve our corporate aim of achieving ‘an integrated health and social care model’ is the expansion of smoking cessation support services via GPs, nurses in hospital and community settings, and other allied health professionals. Smoking cessation training standards to support this initiative are being prepared to quality-assure our services in line with corporate policy.
PARTNERSHIP The HSE will implement the actions outlined in this framework by seeking to address the determinants of tobacco use and reduce health inequalities. However, the health sector is not the only sector that will play a role in the prevention
and treatment of tobacco use. Relevant government departments, including those responsible for taxation, together with social and community sectors, all have a role to play. The HSE will work and support these other relevant sectors to implement the actions that are outside the remit of the health sector. The Tobacco Control Framework is an innovative evidenced-based document which will support the HSE to set standards for service provision, and it provides us with a strategic plan for tobacco control. We look forward to working with our partners to achieve our common goal.
* The Framework for Tobacco Control was developed by the HSE’s Tobacco Control Framework (TCF) project group, guided by a national steering group, in order to inform HSE policy and provide a coherent HSE response to tobacco use in Ireland over the coming years. A population health approach was considered, as outlined in the HSE’s Population Health Strategy.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124