More to do despite impact of enclosed public spaces smoking ban, says Wiltshire Public Health boss

Wiltshire's Director of Public Health has hailed the impact of a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces for driving down the number of smokers in the UK.

The ban was introduced 18 years ago this week and has helped cut the number of people 16 or over who are smoking from 24% to 11%.

Professor Kate Blackburn said: "The legislation at the time in 2007, and even now, was huge in terms of its popularity around protecting people's health, but it also gave us that key opportunity around changing people's attitudes towards smoking and I think we've then seen that impact play through."

But Professor Blackburn insists there is still work to do, with Wiltshire Council striving for a "smoke free Wiltshire".

"Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England, killing two out of every three smokers and, for Wiltshire, it is still one of the biggest drivers for health inequality that we see in our population," she said.

The Public Health team in Wiltshire is aiming to slash the current estimate of 44,000 smokers in the county in half by 2029.

With nine people dying in Wiltshire every week from smoking-related illnesses, Professor Blackburn says it's vital to keep progress going.

But she acknowledges that it's "challenging and difficult" to quit, and that there is "no one thing that will work for all".

The Public Health team and the Council insist they are there for people considering giving up smoking, with a smoke free app available to help control cravings and monitor health improvements, as well as the opportunity to speak to stop smoking experts.

The health benefits to quitting smoking can be instant, with the bloodstream becoming more oxygenated, while longer-term boosts include a lower risk of certain tyres of cancer.

Professor Blackburn highlighted a further benefit to mental health: "There's also something which we know from individuals around the improvement to people's mental well-being and resilience in taking charge of something that is a uniquely addictive.

"Taking control of that and being in control can really promote that positive, not just physical, but mental well-being as well."

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