Fifty years ago this week, on 7th March 1962, the Royal College of Physicians of London published its seminal report "Smoking and Health". This was the first major review that linked smoking with lung cancer and with 'chronic bronchitis' (better known now as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). The report also recommended restrictions on the sale of tobacco and increasing taxation as means of limiting tobacco use. Many of the recommendations are now commonplace.
The benefits of stopping smoking in terms of reducing the risk of heart attack or COPD are well known. Less well known are the facts that stopping smoing before surgey will improve wound healing, reduce the pain experienced and shorten the time to recovery.
Next week, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust will take the next step and will become a smokefree site. The Board are to be congratulated for this bold move. Other hospitals in the UK such as Blackpool NHS Trust have successfully gone smokefree. Now with funding from Smokefree Southwest and in collaboration with Smokefree Plymouth, Plymouth Hospitals will contribute to the improving the city's health and reducing health inequalities. We will also demonstrate what can be achived by a large employer in the city. There will be some special guests tomorrow for final preparations. If you are in Plymouth and want to prepare yourself, look here for information or call Smokefree Plymouth on 01752-314040. If you're trying to stop, I hope it goes well for you.
