Cross Party Group on
Smoking and Health
Background
Smoking is the single highest risk factor for premature death, disease and disability in Wales. It has been identified as a leading cause for the gap in mortality rates between the most and least deprived areas of our country, with smoking rates almost triple in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived. It causes over 5000 deaths each year in Wales and costs the Welsh NHS an estimated £302 million per year. New ideas are needed to tackle the harms of smoking.
About the group
Tackling smoking prevalence is a big challenge and requires a concerted effort by a number of partners to ensure that tobacco control remains a key focus of the Welsh Government’s work to improve the nation’s health.
The Cross Party Group on Smoking and Health was set up with the purpose of ensuring that tobacco control remains a key component of the health agenda in Wales and to monitor the progress being made to address the inequalities caused by smoking in Wales.
For more information please email enquiries@ashwales.org.uk
Chair of the group
John Griffiths MS (Labour)
Members of the group include:
Mike Hedges MS (Labour)
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS (Plaid Cymru)
Delyth Jewell MS (Plaid Cymru)
Darren Millar MS (Conservative)
Past Events
1st July 2021 – Digitalisation and Smoking Cessation: Chaired by John Griffiths MS, ASH Wales hosted a virtual meeting to discuss how digital technology could be used to support and enhance smoking cessation services in Wales. The group heard from experts in the field of respiratory health and digital health care solutions and more than 50 stakeholders from across Wales took part in the event including members of the Senedd, the third sector, public health bodies, NHS Wales and private sector digital companies.
Speakers included Professor Keir Lewis, Consultant Physician and Director of Research and Development at Hywel Dda UHB and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Swansea University; Ian Bond, Chief Executive of Bond Digital Health; and Dr Ashish Mandavia, UK Commercial Director of Quit Genius.
30th September 2020 – ASH Wales held a virtual meeting hosted by our Chair John Griffiths MS. The meeting focused on the impending implementation of the Public Health (Wales) Act (2017) and took the opportunity to draw on the experiences of our UK and European counterparts of introducing smokefree policies aimed at tackling smoking prevalence and changing the perception of smoking.
26th Nov 2019 – The next Tobacco Control Plan for Wales; Targeting the Endgame.
26th June 2019 – Illegal tobacco in Wales. Reasons to care and the impact on a local community.
5th March 2019 – Who can afford to smoke? Working with money advice organisations; putting health and economic benefits together.
14th November 2018 – Smoking and health inequalities.
To find out more about the Cross Party Group please contact enquiries@ashwales.org.uk
Related News
