Scotland's doctors unite in calls for smoke free public places

Sep 29 2004

As part of the BMA's 'Breathe better in Scotland' campaign, senior doctors today (Wednesday 29 September) delivered 1000 letters from doctors in Scotland calling on the First Minister, Jack McConnell, to legislate for smokefree public places.

As the consultation period closes in Scotland and on the day that Ireland celebrates six months of smokefree public places, one thousand doctors in Scotland have written to the First Minister detailing the suffering and devastation smoking has on their patients and their families. Banning smoke in public places, which is what each of the letters call for, would reduce the illnesses and deaths caused by passive smoke.

Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland said: "Smoking remains the biggest single cause of preventable death in Scotland and if the Scottish Executive introduced smoke free enclosed public places, it would be the single most effective piece of public health legislation to be passed in the UK.

"Scotland can be one of the international leaders in public health strategies. These letters send a clear message from the medical profession and illustrate, very graphically, the ill health effects of exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.

"I have asked the First Minster to consider these letters as part of the Scottish Executive's consultation on smoking in public places."

Dr David Love, Joint Chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practice Committee added: "Continuing delays in legislating for smoke-free public places is indefensible. Scottish people, both smokers and non-smokers, are suffering from the effects of tobacco smoke now and international experience shows that comprehensive tobacco control programmes, supported with national legislation, work."

Dr Graeme Eunson, Joint Chairman of the BMA's Scottish Junior Doctors Committee said: "The effects of second hand smoking can affect people at any age. I work in paediatrics and I regularly see children with severe respiratory problems, many of which are exacerbated or even caused by exposure to second hand tobacco smoke."

http://www.bma.org.uk/scotland