A Breath of Fresh Air – Towards a Smoke Free

20 MARCH 2007

THE FUTURE INNS, CARDIFF Cardiff Bay, Hemingway Road, Cardiff, CF10 4JY

In association with

A Breath of Fresh Air – Towards a Smoke Free Wales

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

The Wales Centre for Health in association with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Local Government Association is pleased to welcome you to ‘A Breath of Fresh Air – Towards a Smoke Free Wales’. The event will provide an opportunity to look forward to the imminent introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Wales, which comes into effect on the 2nd April. This is widely recognised as a key piece of recent public health legislation which will have a dramatic impact on the health of the Welsh population. It is estimated that at least 400 lives will be saved each year in Wales as a result of the introduction of the new legislation.

THE SMOKING BAN

The smoking ban for Wales comes into effect on the 2 April 2007 with the aim of preventing diseases and deaths caused by second-hand smoke. Wales will follow the Republic of Ireland and Scotland in introducing such legislation. The new ban will apply to ‘enclosed’ or ‘substantially enclosed’ public spaces, including workplaces.

The smoking ban reflects recognition on the part of the National Assembly for Wales of the need to protect workers and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

In anticipation of the forthcoming ban a number of measures have been taken to prepare both businesses and individuals. These have included: the development of a website, ‘Smoking Ban Wales’ (www.smokingbanwales.co.uk); TV & radio campaign; pre-ban adverts; information leaflets for households and guidance for businesses. Training and enforcement guidance have been provided for local government enforcement officers. Steps have also been taken to enable smoking cessation services to deal with increased demand resulting from the ban.

MEETING PARTNERS

The Wales Centre for Health

The Wales Centre for Health (WCfH) is an Assembly Sponsored Public Body established to lead improvements in the nation’s health and well-being by advocating on health issues, engaging with the public and communities, and speaking independently on health, free from corporate or economic interests.

Launched in April 2005, the WCfH features prominently in “Designed for Life”, the strategy for the NHS in Wales:

“The Wales Centre for Health will become the hub of connected organisations concentrating on how professionals can drive quality improvements. It will provide an intelligence function, surveillance activity and contribute to the R&D agenda.”

The WCfH has statutory responsibilities as set out in the Health (Wales) Act 2003, which include: • the development and maintenance of arrangements for making information about matters related to the protection and improvement of health in Wales available to the public • undertaking and commissioning research into such matters • the provision and development of training in such matters.

The WCfH carries out these functions by engaging all organisations that have any potential contribution to improving health, and working in partnership with them.

Mission Statement

The WCfH has an independent, unique role in protecting and improving health and well being in Wales. It focuses on addressing inequalities, communicating independent information and advice, developing working networks and partnerships, contributing to training and education and driving quality improvements. The WCfH also provides an intelligence function, surveillance activity and contributes to the research, development and dissemination agenda.

National Assembly for Wales

In July 1997, the UK Government published a White Paper, A Voice for Wales, which outlined proposed devolution in Wales. These proposals were endorsed in the referendum of 18 September 1997. Parliament subsequently passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales. The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 enabled the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly on 1 July 1999.

The National Assembly has 60 Assembly Members (AMs) who are elected by the people of Wales. They meet in the debating chamber in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.

The Assembly is responsible for most public expenditure in Wales, and has powers to make a wide range of secondary legislation. The National Assembly does not have tax-raising powers.

The National Assembly has delegated its executive powers to nine Cabinet Ministers who together form the Welsh Assembly Government. The Welsh Assembly Government is subject to democratic scrutiny by the National Assembly.

Welsh Local Government Association

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) represents the interests of local government and promotes local democracy in Wales. It represents the 22 local authorities in Wales and the 4 police authorities, 3 fire and rescue authorities and 3 national park authorities are associate members.

The WLGA’s primary purposes are to promote better local government and its reputation and to support authorities in the development of policies and priorities which will improve public services and democracy.

Originally established in 1996 primarily as a policy development and representative body, the WLGA has since developed into an organisation that also leads on improvement and development, equalities, procurement, employment issues and hosts a range of partner bodies supporting local government.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

CHAIR – Dr Carl Clowes, WCfH Board Member

Dr Carl Clowes has stayed close to his roots in rural Wales, having a practice for some years on the remote Ll n peninsula before becoming a Consultant in Public Health Medicine and a Medical Director in Powys. He has strong links with the voluntary sector, having led the establishment in 1974 of Antur Aelhaearn, the first `community cooperative` in the UK and the revolutionary twinning of Wales with Lesotho in 1985. He founded the Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust in 1978 and, in 1991, he was invited to chair the National Language Forum which brought together 26 voluntary sector organisations in Wales to campaign for a new Act to give full parity for Welsh with English.

In 1994 he was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Public Health for his contribution to medicine and has also been honoured at the highest level by the National of Wales for his contributions “locally, nationally and internationally”.

Ginny Blakey, Head of Tobacco Policy Branch, Welsh Assembly Government

Ginny Blakey has held health improvement posts in a range of settings, including the voluntary sector, Cardiff University and Health Promotion Wales, where her remit included sexual health and alcohol issues. She joined the Office of the Chief Medical Officer in the Welsh Assembly Government in 1999 and is currently Head of Tobacco Policy Branch. Since 2005 she has focused on the smoke-free legislation for Wales and arrangements for implementation of the smoking ban.

Dr Tony Calland, Chair, Welsh Council BMA

Recently retired from full time practice as GP in the Wye valley after 33 years service. Chairman of the BMA Welsh Council and the BMA Medical Ethics Committee. Previous Chairman of GPC Wales, and Gwent LMC and was a Non Executive Director of Gwent Health Authority.

Paul Gimson, Long Term Condition & Public Health Lead Pharmacist, The Royal Society of Great Britain

Paul Gimson’s background is as a Community Pharmacist and is currently Lead for Long Term Conditions and Public Health at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Formerly Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at Caerphilly LHB and project manager at the Welsh Assembly Government for implementation of the new pharmacy contract. 33 married with 2 kids under 3 year! Andrew Jones, National Public Health Service for Wales

Andrew Jones graduated with First Class honours in Environmental Health from the University of Wales, Cardiff before obtaining a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff. Andrew worked at a senior level in local government within Wales before being accredited as a ‘generalist specialist’ in public health in December 2003 when he became the first individual to be accepted onto the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists. He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK and a member, with chartered status, of the UK Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Andrew was appointed as a consultant in public health for the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) in 2003. He currently holds a portfolio of responsibilities which include being the Local Public Health Director for two Local Health Boards in North Wales and leading one of the NPHS national resource teams. Andrew has recently been appointed by the NPHS as Acting Regional Director (North Wales)/ Director of Health Improvement.

David Jones, Head of Community & Environmental Protection, Monmouthshire County Council

David hails from Aberystwyth. Studied in Leeds in Environmental Health and, on qualification, took up his first job as an EHO in Taff-Ely Borough Council, covering the Pontypridd area. Left for Monmouthshire in 1991, working from both the Chepstow and Abergavenny area offices. Spent many years working with businesses, with particular emphasis on food safety and occupational safety and health. David’s now based in Cwmbran, working as Head of Community & Environmental Protection. His Division is responsible for local delivery of Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing, Building and Development Control services. As well as being actively involved with the local Health Alliance, (working on preventative work including smoke free environments and reducing alcohol misuse), he also sits on the Monmouthshire Local Health Board.

Robert Steenson, Environmental Health Manager, North Lanarkshire Council

Robert Steenson is Environmental Health Manager for North Lanarkshire Council, the fourth largest Local Authority in Scotland with a population of 326000. He has been an EHO for 20 years and has worked for a range of local authorities in both rural and urban areas, and serves on the Executive Council of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. The Environmental Health Service was responsible for the successful implementation of the prohibition of smoking legislation in North Lanarkshire, and the presentation will outline the practical application of the smoking ban in Scotland, with particular reference to the approach adopted by North Lanarkshire.

Alastair Tomlinson, Team Leader, Health Improvement, Cardiff Council

Alastair Tomlinson is a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner and Team Leader (Health Improvement) for Cardiff Council. Since autumn 2005, Alastair has co-ordinated a Welsh Local Government Association officer working group addressing the financial and practical implications of the proposed smokefree legislation, including the preparation of enforcement guidance. He also manages the team who will be leading on enforcement of the legislation in Cardiff. Alastair qualified as an Environmental Health Officer in July 2000, and has studied part-time for a Masters in Public Health at Cardiff University, graduating in July 2006. Alastair lives in Bridgend with his wife Rebeccah, son Evan and two cats.

Phil Williams, Operational Manager Development & Building Control, Cardiff County Council

Phil Williams is currently the Development Manager at Cardiff County Council responsible for the processing of all planning and related applications, and Building Control, his role is being extended to that of Strategic Planning Manager in April with, inter alia, responsibility, as Programme Manager, for the delivery of Cardiff City Football Club Stadium. He holds a BA (Hons) degree from London University, an MSc in Planning from Cardiff University and an MBA from the University of Glamorgan.

PROGRAMME

20 March 2007 10.00am Registration, tea and coffee

10.20am Introduction and Welcome made by Dr Carl Clowes

10.30am Introducing the Ban in Wales – Ginny Blakey, (Head of Tobacco Policy, Welsh Assembly Government)

10.50am Experience from Scotland – Robert Steenson, (Environmental Health Manager, North Lanarkshire Council)

11.10am Enforcement of the Ban & Local Authority Awareness Raising - David Jones (Head of Community & Environmental Protection, Monmouthshire County Council) & Alastair Tomlinson (Team Leader, Health Improvement, Cardiff Council) 11.40am The Planning Position – Phil Williams, (Operational Manager Development & Building Control, Cardiff County Council)

12.00pm Questions & Answers (Morning Session)

12.15pm LUNCH

1.15pm Welcome to afternoon session: Supporting People to Stop Smoking – Dr Carl Clowes

1.20pm Dr Tony Calland (Chair, Welsh Council BMA)

1.40pm The All Wales Smoking Cessation Service – Andrew Jones (NPHS)

2.00pm The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain – Paul Gimson (Long Term Conditions & Public Health Lead Pharmacist)

2.25pm TEA & COFFEE 2.35pm Questions & Answers (Afternoon Session)

3.00pm FINISH

PRESENTATIONS

GINNY BLAKEY

ROBERT STEENSON

DAVID JONES

ALASTAIR TOMLINSON

PHIL WILLIAMS

DR TONY CALLAND

ANDREW JONES

PAUL GIMSON