Southend-on-Sea in Essex is one of the first UK areas which is on target to reach the SmokeFree 2030 goal.
The SmokeFree 2030 goal is a target where smoking rates are below 5% of adults by 2030. Sadly there have been reports that we may be way off this target – for instance Cancer Research UK compiled a report saying this may not be achieved until 2039.
However since then – the UK “Swap to Stop” scheme was announced and Neil O’Brien OBE MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Minister for Primary Care and Public Health) published proposals on April 11th 2023.
Southend-on-Sea Success
It is being reported that Southend-on-Sea may be one of the first areas to meet this target.
Press reports about this include…
The Director of Public Health, Krishna Ramkhelawon in a Southend Borough Councils People Scrutiny Committee stated…
“The approach we have taken since 2018 [is] to move people onto vaping, the reason being that the comparative data we had in 2017 was that using tobacco was more likely to give you other forms of diseases than vaping could,”
“There was nothing to suggest what vaping could do and that’s the piece of work that’s ongoing.
“We introduced in 2019 the scheme where we encouraged people to go for vaping and quit smoking and I think that’s the main reason why we are seeing a high rate of tobacco quitters.”
Apparently according to the BBC News article – Mr Ramkhelawon said he had been advised by the National Knowledge and Improvement Services (part of the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities) that Southend could be the first area in the East of England to achieve the milestone.
Also quoting from the BBC article…
“The city’s stop smoking service included 29 GPs and 11 pharmacists, signed up to provide 12 weeks of support to quitters, with the latter offering a walk-in service.
Four vape shops in the city are offering a “vape swap” service, including a free starter kit.”
Get Involved
If you live or work in the city of Southend-on-Sea you are eligible for stop smoking support.
Visit the main stop smoking service website here.
You can even get help with a free vape kit to get you started. Visit their website “Vape Shop Support page”
We are rooting for you guys! I really hope you nail this and you deserve to become the first area in the UK to become “Smoke Free”. Good luck!!!
Related Tweets
A commitment to #vaping has seen smoking rates plummet in Southend, England, now on track to be smokefree
“we encouraged people to go for vaping and quit smoking and I think that’s the main reason why we are seeing a high rate of tobacco quitters”https://t.co/NUCp4bgQWJ…
— Dr Colin Mendelsohn (@ColinMendelsohn) July 15, 2023
Southend-on-Sea: City aims for ‘smoke free’ target with vaping push – BBC News https://t.co/cdavQneJZr
— Martin Dockrell (@SwitchFinder) July 15, 2023
SOUTHEND, ESSEX, UK [Director Of Public Health Says They’re Well On Track To Reaching An Under 5% Smoking Rate Thanks To Promoting The Switch From Smoking To Vaping] https://t.co/F1L9Od1jAO
— Dimitris 🇬🇷 🇺🇸 (@VapinGreek) July 15, 2023
A city is on target to become “smoke free” by 2030 by encouraging smokers to vapehttps://t.co/0kGIaUQ3hy
— NNA Ireland (@IrelandNna) July 15, 2023
“…we encouraged people to go for vaping and quit smoking and I think that’s the main reason why we are seeing a high rate of tobacco quitters.”
“Southend could be the first area in the East of England to reach the 5% milestone.”https://t.co/2s8G1YVVTo
— Phil (@phil_w888) July 15, 2023
Southend-on-Sea: City aims for ‘smoke free’ target with vaping push https://t.co/IZI3wCyd6f
— BBC Look East (@BBCLookEast) July 15, 2023
