Northern Ireland faces part or total ban on smoking in public places

30 Jun 05
Northern Ireland is to adopt either a full or partial ban on smoking in public places, Health Minister Shaun Woodward has announced, in a speech in which he branded much of the

01 July 2005

Northern Ireland is to adopt either a full or partial ban on smoking in public places, Health Minister Shaun Woodward has announced, in a speech in which he branded much of the province's health service as 'completely unacceptable'.

A public consultation exercise drew more than 70,000 responses, revealing 91% of respondents wanted a total ban on smoking in public places. A mere half a per cent supported self-regulation by the industry, which has been dropped as an option.

Woodward, speaking at a conference in Belfast on improving health care quality through effective governance, said it would take 'a few more months' to decide whether to ban smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, or whether to permit smoking in pubs and bars where food is not served.

The licensed trade welcomed the decision not to announce a complete ban. Nicola Carruthers, of the Federation of Retail Licensed Trade, said: 'We have worked hard to demonstrate that the issue of passive smoking can be responsibly addressed by the licensed trade without the need for a total smoking ban.'

Woodward was more decisive in spelling out the need for radical and urgent reform of the structure and service standards of health organisations in Northern Ireland. He said that it was 'completely unacceptable' that patients who would be guaranteed a consultation within six months in England might wait three or four years in Northern Ireland. 'The system needs a sense of urgency, which it currently lacks,' he said.

The minister said there was too much variation between different trusts, hospitals and specialisms. There must be stronger leadership and performance management and greater independent assessment, he said. Extra money was not the solution, given that funding had already risen from £2.2bn to £3.3bn in five years, with spending per capita now 11% higher than in England, he added.

Major reform was promised. Comparing the population of Northern Ireland with that of Kent and Medway, Woodward pointed out that in the English area there were just four trusts, compared with Northern Ireland, which had 19 trusts and four boards, as well as a government department. 'The system will have to change,' he said.

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