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Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust
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Flinders Medical Centre
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New fight over risks to children of passive smoking
THE Government has launched an advertising campaign on the hidden dangers of secondhand smoke to young children
New TV and radio adverts in England will show that smoking by a window or the back door does not protect youngsters from harmful effects
According to figures from the Royal College of Physicians millions of children in the UK are exposed to secondhand smoke that puts them at increased risk of lung disease meningitis and cot death
Secondhand smoking results in over 300000 GP visits among children ever year 9500 hospital visits and costs the NHS more than 236m annually
A survey of 1000 children aged eight to 13 whose parents are smokers was released to support the campaign
It found 98 per cent wished their parents would stop smoking 82 per cent wished their parents would not smoke in front of them at home and 78 per cent wished they would not smoke in the car
Meanwhile 41 per cent said cigarette smoke made them feel ill while 42 per cent said it made them cough
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said We all know smoking kills but not enough people realise the serious effect that secondhand smoke can have on the health of others particularly children
This campaign will raise awareness of this danger and encourage people to take action to protect others from secondhand smoke
This is just one part of our wider strategy on tobacco We need to do more
That is why next week we will end tobacco displays in large shops We will also be consulting on plain packaging this spring
Dr Charles Godden consultant paediatrician at the Royal Surrey Hospital said I see children every week with conditions which are made worse by secondhand smoke
Most parents would be horrified to know that even a short car journey where an adult has been smoking would result in breakdown products of nicotine in their childs urine
This shows exactly why we should all make our homes and cars smokefree and that children need protection from exposure to secondhand smoke
Professor Terence Stephenson president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said Levels of tobacco smoke in a car can be even higher than in a smoky bar and secondhand smoke has been strongly linked to chest infections in children asthma ear problems and cot deaths
We have long campaigned on this issue and todays announcement is a significant victory
But when it comes to smoking in cars when children are present we are calling on Government to now go the extra mile and make it illegal
Simon Clark director of Forest smokers group said Tobacco is a legal product Adults must be allowed to smoke somewhere
Date : 31 Mar, 2012
Reference : http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/new-fight-over-risks-to-children-of-passive-smoking-1-4405148