Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) has pledged to help local smokers quit the habit in line with the Government’s plans to make the country smokefree by 2030. 

ICB’s interim chief executive Nick Broughton, chief medical officer Rachael de Caux and Sim Scavazza, acting chair, each signed the ‘NHS Smoke Free Pledge’ this week – 26 February 2024 (see pictured).

The Pledge is a national initiative and an opportunity for local NHS organisations to show their commitment to help smokers to quit and to provide smokefree environments to support people. It is estimated that 75,000 people die each year from smoking related diseases in England.*

BOB ICB’s commitment to stop smoking initiatives include:

  • Commissioned our local NHS trusts to launch tobacco dependency treatment services for mental health and acute inpatients and maternity services - where relevant.
  • Worked with local councils via tobacco control alliances across the ICB to promote stop smoking initiatives.
  • Provided funding for two Primary Care Networks in Buckinghamshire to employ health coaches to work with patients ahead of their surgical operations to support them to stop smoking.
  • Supporting our local NHS trusts to demonstrate their commitment to the pledge.

Nick Broughton said: “We are delighted to sign the NHS Smokefree Pledge. Working alongside our partners in the NHS and local councils, we are determined to help as many smokers as possible to kick the habit. This will improve their health and reduce the challenges placed on the NHS from smoking-related illnesses.

“People who stop smoking reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease which is one of the most common causes of ongoing ill-health and deaths across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West leading to heart attack and strokes. Smoking is also the leading preventable cause of cancer.”

Nick said: “We encourage people to watch out for stop smoking activities being promoted by local councils across the patch on Stop Smoking Day - 13 March. This is a great opportunity for people to get the help and support they need to kick the habit and to start living healthier lives.”

In January 2018, the Smokefree Action Coalition launched the NHS Smokefree Pledge, updating the NHS Statement of Support for Tobacco Control launched in 2014. The Pledge is designed to be a clear and visible way for NHS organisations to show their commitment to helping smokers to quit and to providing smokefree environments which support them.

The NHS Smokefree Pledge was relaunched in 2022 to bring it into line with the Government’s ambition for England to be smokefree by 2030 and commitments made to improve smoking cessation support available through the NHS in the NHS Long Term Plan.

For more information on the NHS Smoke Free Pledge visit the ASH website at: https://ash.org.uk/resources/smokefree-nhs/the-nhs-smokefree-pledge

You can find stop smoking advice and support for:

Oxfordshire

https://www.stopforlifeoxon.org/

Buckinghamshire

Be Healthy Bucks - Home (maximusuk.co.uk)

Berkshire

Stop Smoking Berkshire | Smokefreelife Berkshire

*Data from NHS England see here

Photo: BOB ICB signing the NHS Smoke Free Pledge – l/r: Sim Scavazza, Rachael de Caux, Nick Broughton.