ASH Scotland heartened by UK Government kickstarting debate on public health measures to reduce tobacco related deaths

ASH Scotland is welcoming confirmation from the UK Government that it is considering restrictions on smoking outside hospitals and other outdoor spaces to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to tobacco use.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We welcomed the Scottish Government’s UK-leading move in implementing regulations to extend smoke-free legislation out to 15 metres from NHS hospital buildings in September 2022 to protect non-smoking patients, staff and visitors from the harm of second-hand toxic tobacco smoke.

“ASH Scotland supports the extension of SAFE spaces (smoke-free and aerosol-free environments) throughout Scotland, with a particular focus on areas frequently used by children such as in and around school premises, playgrounds and beaches.

“It is heartening to see that the new UK Government is hitting the ground running by considering strong prevention measures to help keep people healthy and reduce ongoing impacts on the NHS. Such considerations are vital if we are to continue driving down use of tobacco – the biggest preventable killer in Scotland which causes more than 8,000 deaths and almost 90,000 hospitalisations a year.

“To create the healthier society we aspire to in Scotland, measures which challenge the visibility and normalisation of smoking should be part of the debate about how we make progress towards having health promoting environments and become a tobacco-free generation by the target date of 2034.”