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This edition provides a review of the Smokefree Devon Alliance work during 2023.
The Newsletter is an information source for professionals working with the Smokefree Devon Alliance to update on the work of the Alliance and recent evidence reviews.
On 4 October 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published a command paper Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation setting out proposed action to protect future generations from the harms of smoking by creating the first smokefree generation, which the UK Government and devolved administrations are now seeking to consult on.
This consultation asks questions on proposed action to protect future generations from the harms of smoking, by creating the first smokefree generation. It also asks about proposals to crack down on youth vaping and ensure the law is enforced.
The consultation asks questions in 3 areas for which new legislation would be needed, which are:
- Creating a smokefree generation: consulting on the smokefree generation policy and its scope.
- Tackling youth vaping: consulting on several options to ensure we take the most appropriate and impactful steps, building on England’s analysis of the youth vaping call for evidence.
- Enforcement: consulting on the proposal to introduce new powers for local authorities in England and Wales to issue fixed penalty notices to enforce age of sale legislation of tobacco products and vapes.
We have recognise the importance of our advocating for this progressive public health policy, so we would strongly urge SFDA members to respond. The deadline for consultation submissions is Wednesday 6th December.
It is widely known that tobacco industry interference is the biggest barrier to progress in reducing tobacco harms, and there will be significant investment in disruptive strategies by industry in response to these policy announcements. It is therefore important to remember our legal obligations to protect public health policies from commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry, under article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Local authorities currently receive funding to provide local stop smoking services and support through the public health grant. On 4 October 2023, the government published Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation. This included a programme of funding to support current smokers to quit smoking, with £70 million additional funding per year for local stop smoking services and support. This more than doubles existing funding through the public health grant, and new funding will be provided through a new section 31 grant on top of the current public health grant allocations.
DHSC will provide the grant, and Local Authorities in Devon have been contacted with details of their confirmed awards. They will receive the grant agreement in January 2024 which will provide more detail. The grant agreement will start from 6 April 2024.
Conversations are currently taking place across the wider Devon area to ensure we have ambitious, innovative and achievable plans to utilise this funding to further the SFDA agenda and priorities.
The Smokefree Devon Alliance, a partnership of organisations committed to reducing the harm caused by tobacco in Devon, have launched their new strategy for the next five years, which outlines a vision to create a smokefree generation in Devon.
Three main priorities were selected to focus on:
- Protect children and young people from the harms of tobacco and de-normalise tobacco use to help prevent uptake.
- Reduce health inequalities caused by smoking, by supporting high quality, evidence-based intervention, with a focus on achieving equity and fairness.
- Ensure cross-sector, strategic collaboration around tobacco control, and support the development of a smoke free culture within key organisations.
Workshops were held with a variety of stakeholders and representatives to plan ways to work together to meet the aims and objectives of the strategy. The Smokefree Devon Alliance will meet three times a year and will focus on each of these priority areas in turn, with representatives across the public, private and voluntary sector brought together to devise new ways of working to achieve a smoke free Devon for all.
Our next meeting is planned for Wednesday 21st February 2024, 11.00-13.00. If you would like added to the invite list or have an agenda item, please contact mallory.fisher@devon.gov.uk.
 Our FREE Stop Smoking Service for everyone in Devon, launched on 1 November 2023. It’s easy to refer your patients/clients/contacts to via:
· Online referral form on our website: Stopforlifedevon.org
· Email: stopforlife.devon@nhs.net
· FreePhone: 0800 122 3866
· Partner/stakeholder number: 01392 908139
The service is FREE and our coaches will help people to develop a personal quit plan, so that they can make a change that is sustainable for them. We offer support over the phone, via video call and face to face all across Devon.
OHID launched their 'Swap to Stop' scheme in October, where Local Authorities can apply for funded vape starter kits, to be distributed through existing local smoking cessation services, as well as through innovative schemes to have broader reach. The first window for Expressions of Interest applications closed on 3rd November. While Devon, Plymouth and Torbay decided to apply individually due to nuances in local service delivery, a collaborative approach was agreed upon to ensure that the SFDA priorities were a consistent thread. A shared document and statement of intent has been drawn up and will be a useful tool to refer to as the national roll out of the programme begins, and further opportunities to apply for funding are advertised.
"Amplification of the promotion of the free vape offer across wider Devon should increase awareness and impact, as well as clarity of message for large organisations working across council boundaries."
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Children issue anti-smoking message to grown-ups
‘Please don’t smoke where we play’ – that’s the message from schoolchildren to adults who light up near their playgrounds.
Primary school children were asked to come up with signs to bring this request to life. Torbay Council and Devon County Council, both members of Smokefree Devon Alliance, set up a poster competition among primary school pupils to find the best designs. More than 30 children entered the competition from schools in both areas, as well as art and craft clubs and community groups. A shortlist of ten was put to Torbay’s Torbay on the Move oversight group, which whittled it down to three winners. Katherine, seven, William, nine, and Josie, 11, were named the winners and they will receive a Reach Outdoors voucher for two one-hour hires of a paddleboard or kayak from the Goodrington Beach Centre.
Their signs will be displayed in 23 play parks throughout Torbay and in Devon 112 signs have been distributed to the county’s eight district councils (14 each). They will use them in their play parks and play areas.
Councillor Hayley Tranter, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities, said: “Play parks should be safe spaces for children and young people and what could be safer than knowing you’re not breathing in harmful second-hand smoke?”
“This is about children directly asking adults not to smoke where they play, and we hope these signs make grown-ups think before they reach for their cigarettes.”
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, said: “We’ve all seen it, adults smoking in or near play parks. Sometimes its young adults sometimes it’s the parents themselves, but regardless its unacceptable and these signs convey a simple message, please don’t smoke where we play. Adults’ smoking in play parks harms children – in the short-term second-hand smoke is damaging and in the long-term exposure to smoking makes it more likely that children will become smokers themselves.”
The signs were produced and installed by SWISCo, the organisation which maintains Torbay’s parks. Torbay on the Move is Torbay Council’s initiative to get people in the Bay moving more and leading healthier lifestyles.
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Everyone Health have provided stop smoking services to residents in the Devon County Council area since 2019 and we would like to thank them for all they have done to support the Smokefree Devon Alliance agenda in that time. By the end of their contract with Devon County Council in October 2023 they had registered a total of 6177 smokers for support, with 4579 quit dates set and 59% of all quits happening within 4 weeks.
 Smokers were encouraged to quit this Stoptober
Stoptober challenges smokers to give up cigarettes for 28 days during the month of October. The premise is that after abstaining for this period of time, individuals are five times more likely to quit smoking permanently. The campaign ran from 1st-31st October 2023. OneSmallStep was the lead partner in promoting the campaign across the Devon County Council area, and they provided the report below -
Aims:
1. Increase awareness of the OSS service number of referrals with OSS smoking pathway via telephone and face to face support
2. Take direct referrals for Stoptober quit attempts and face to face events
3. Increase the awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking
4. Promote available campaign resources
5. Provide support and signposting to OSS website smoking page and referrals into the service
6. Work with our partners to increase awareness of and referrals to the OSS stop smoking service as well as building and maintaining relationships with these key stakeholders.
Activities:
· A stakeholder campaign briefing was sent to contacts via Dot Digital, including practice managers and local stake holders.
· A briefing designed specifically for Alliance members focussed on targeting manual workers was designed by OSS and sent by the Public Health Devon team.
· OneSmallStep delivered over 3 pop-up information stalls at local stake holder venues during the rally weeks and then 11 follow up stalls throughout Stoptober with key partners which allowed people to get CO readings completed and engaged with target communities about quitting for Stoptober and beyond.
· We supported Devon residents to quit smoking with FREE one to one support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy, delivered directly to their door.
Outcomes:
· We spoke with over 130 smokers about the benefits of quitting and how to access the stop smoking service (with referral information for ICE Creates given where appropriate)
· We hosted a pop up in the foyer of the RD and E for the first time which proved incredibly successful capturing both patients and workers as they walked pass. This pop up represented a quarter of all of our contacts over Stoptober and generated 11 direct referrals.
· We did 3 pop ups specifically targeting manual workers at 2 Sisters Factory and Street Scene- who we connected with through our briefing. The pop ups were under attended but these were useful connections to make and it would be worth pursuing different ways to engage these groups as many of them do smoke.
· We strengthened our connections with partners in key target communities such as homeless outreach, substance misuse organisations and maternity.
Pop Ups:
We took 17 direct referrals to the service and over 30 CO reading at our pop ups this year.
Smoking prevalence is still a major concern in Devon but we have made progress compared to England and the wider South West.
· In Devon in 2017-2019 approximately 2934 people died due to a smoking-attributable mortality.
· In Torbay in 2017-19 approximately 699 people died due to a smoking-attributable mortality.
· Devon has a smoking attributable mortality rate, per 100,000 population, of 159.4 which is significantly lower than the South West average of 173.7, and England average of 202.2 smoking mortality rate.
· Torbay mortality rates are higher than the England average at 213.5 per 100,000 population.
· In Devon in 2019 - 2020 there were 6392 smoking attributable hospital admissions, with a rate of 1086 per 100,000 population, this is significantly lower than the South West rates of 1,300 per 100,000 and England 1,398 per 100,000 population rates[1).
· In Torbay 2019- 2020 there were 1,580 smoking attributable hospital admissions, with a rate of 1,529 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the England average.
· Whilst county-wide prevalence of smoking has fallen over the last 10 years from 20.0% in 2011 to 13.9% in 2022, in Devon and 19.2% in 2011 to 15.4% in 2019 In Torbay, there are some variation in rates in the most recent years of reporting
(Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities OHID, Local Tobacco Control Profiles)
[1] Smoking attributable hospital admissions, 2019-2020, OHID Fingertips, Local Tobacco Control Profiles - Data - OHID (phe.org.uk)
[2] Smoking Prevalence in adults (18+) - current smokers (APS), 2021, Local Tobacco Control Profiles - Data - OHID (phe.org.uk)
Smokefree Devon Alliance Website
We are reviewing and updating our website to improve it as a source for professionals. Welcome to Smokefree Devon - Smokefree Alliance Devon
Any comments on how the website could be improved are welcome please send comments to publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
The newsletters will be shared on our www.smokefreedevon.org.uk/ website to be accessible to all in the future. Alliance newsletter - Smokefree Alliance Devon (smokefreedevon.org.uk)
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