A conference will today bring together a variety of health professionals to learn about the harm caused by second-hand smoke to children, pregnant women, and unborn children and how they can support parents in their attempts to quit and/or keep smoke away from children. The ‘Healthier babies without tobacco conference’ has beenorganised in partnership with a variety of health organisations and will be hosted in Falkirk. Welcoming the conference, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:
“Second-hand smoke has been linked to child ill-health including respiratory problems, middle ear disease, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (cot death). There are around300,000 pre-teen Scottish children who live with at least one parent who smokes. This conference will bring together a wide variety of professionals who provide advice and support to prospective parents and those caring for young children. It will provide them with a chance to learn how to support the nationwide effort to reduce the harm caused by tobacco.
“Delegates will learn more about the harm caused by second-hand smoke, the increased risk to unborn babies, children, and pregnant women and the stop-smoking support available to parents. They will also get the opportunity to hear about the initiatives that seek to reduce smoking in the home and around young children, and will be encouraged to raise these issues with parents as part of their own work. This is an important public health concern and professionals working with parents can really make a difference. Raising awareness of the issues is essential if we are to change Scotland’s public health record for the better.”
Janet Fyle, Professional Adviser, Royal College of Midwives, who will discuss with delegates the statistics around smoking in pregnancy and the link with disadvantage, in her presentation to the conference commented:
“This conference is a good opportunity for midwives to look at the evidence sensibly, and discuss and agree what works for pregnant women. Given that smoking is an addiction and people smoke by choice - despite the fact that they know what smoking does to their health - we need to find strategies to help these women.”
Nancy Docherty, Smoking Cessation Coordinator, NHS Lanarkshire, who will give a presentation outlining what happens when someone is referred to the stop-smoking service and take part in a panel discussion added:
“Stopping smoking in pregnancy is the single most effective thing you can do to give your baby the healthiest start in life. Smoking in pregnancy is the largest preventable cause of foetal and infant ill health and death as it can cause real and lasting damage to both mother and unborn baby. The risks include miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.
“Stopping smoking at any time in pregnancy will bring positive benefits to both mother and baby, therefore it is vital that all those responsible for providing health and support services for pregnant women from fertility clinics and midwives to GPs and dentists to offer information about the expertise that is available and offer specialist support from the NHS Lanarkshire Stop Smoking Service. There’s never been a better time to stop and priority appointments are readily available.”
ENDS
Sheila Duffy is available for ISDN interview. For more information, contact Jeanette Campbell on 07776 142299.
Notes for Editors
1. ASH Scotland is an independent Scottish charity working in partnership to protect people from the harm caused by tobacco. Registered Scottish charity number SC 010412.
2. Healthier babies without tobacco conference: playing your part in reducing the harm caused by smoking is a Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance and ASH Scotland partnership with the Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland and NHS Health Scotland.
3. Anyone looking for more information about the help on offer within the NHS Lanarkshire area can call their Stop Smoking Service on 08452 17 77 02 or text ‘Advice’ 81066.