Fife NHS Board Meeting

DATE OF MEETING: / 30 August 2016
TITLE OF REPORT: / Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation
EXECUTIVE LEAD: / Dr Margaret Hannah
REPORTING OFFICER: / Dr Lorna Watson, Child Health Commissioner
Purpose of the Report (delete as appropriate)
For Information
SBAR REPORT
Situation
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in Scotland, and a leading preventable cause of pregnancy and obstetric complications e.g. stillbirths, and child health issues. ASH Scotland has launched a Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation to promote action to reduce smoking to 5% by 2034 by protecting children and young people from tobacco smoke where possible.
Background
The Charter has six key principles that encourage and enable discussion within organisations to examine how their own policy and practice can best contribute to the tobacco-free goal:
  1. every baby should be born free from the harmful effects of tobacco;
  2. children have a particular need for a smoke-free environment;
  3. all children should play, learn and socialise in places that are free from tobacco;
  4. every child has the right to effective education that equips them to make informed positive choices on tobacco and health;
  5. all young people should be protected from commercial interests which profit from recruiting new smokers;
  6. any young person who smokes should be offered accessible support to help them to become tobacco-free.
There are no fixed criteria but organisations must be able to show that they intend to make a contributionto work towards the 2034 tobacco-freegoal. Organisationssupportingthe Charter are asked toendorse the six principles.
The Charter is in line with Article 24 of the UNCRC which states “Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that children can stay healthy”.
Under the Children & Young People Act 2014, public authorities must report on progress promoting the UNCRC.
Fife situation
NHS Fife and Fife Health & Social Care Partnership are already undertaking activity relating to the 6 principles, such as:
  • Smoke Factor and Smokefree Class, prevention and education programmes in primary and secondary schools
  • Smokefree Homes programme, encourages the public to make a voluntary pledge to not smoke in their homes, thus protecting individuals, in particular babies and young children from the effects of second hand smoke
  • Air Check Test(ACT) programme, uses air quality machines to show the level of smoking related particulate matter that stays within the home for up to 5 hours
  • Quit 4 life programme offers dedicated midwives support to pregnant smokers and their partners to quit.
  • QUITteen programme, aimed at supporting young people to stop smoking.
  • Supported the development of a Smoke Free care placements policy for Fife Council’s Social Work Service and Looked After Children and Young People
Fife Children’s Services Plan 2014-17 already contains a target to reduce the prevalence of smoking at maternity booking to improve Early Years outcomes and the Children in Fife group which oversee the plan has agreed to endorse the Charter.
Recommendation
  • NHS Fife Board is asked to endorse the Charter, in line with existing activity in this area.

Objectives: (must be completed)
Healthcare Standard(s): / Person- centred
HB Strategic Objectives: / Supports all of the Boards strategic objectives
Further Information:
Evidence Base: / Scottish Government’s current Tobacco Control Strategy, Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation
Glossary of Terms: / N/A
Parties / Committees consulted prior to Health Board Meeting: / Children in Fife Group
Impact: (must be completed)
Financial / Value For Money / No additional financial implications
Risk / Legal: / Supports advancing children’s rights in accordance with the Children & Young People’s Act 2014
Quality / Patient Care: / Reduce perinatal adverse outcome e.g. low birthweight, stillbirth, obstetric complications, child health issues and adult related issues in the longer term.
Workforce: / No additional workforce implications.
Equality: / This will reduce current inequalities in health caused by smoking

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