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Prime Minister scraps NHS England to bring health service under Ministerial control
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the abolition of NHS England in an effort to reduce bureaucracy and redirect funding to frontline healthcare services. The decision will bring the management of the NHS back under direct, ‘democratic’, government control through the Department of Health and Social Care. Starmer justified the change by highlighting inefficiencies and duplication between NHS England and government departments.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting backed the decision, calling it a necessary step to simplify the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes. The announcement follows the recent resignations of key NHS England executives, including its chief executive and medical director. While the restructuring is worrying for staff, the move is backed by NHSE CEO Sir James Mackey.
Source: The Independent, 13 March 2025
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Integrated Care Boards told to cut running costs by 50%
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been instructed to reduce their operational costs by 50% by December 2025. This directive follows a previous mandate to cut costs by 20% over the past two years. The new NHS England chief executive, Sir Jim Mackey, informed ICB leaders that redundancy schemes would be implemented, with the Treasury covering associated costs.
The cuts will likely impact the ability of some ICBs to function independently, potentially leading to merges of ICBs leadership and geography. This comes as NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are also undergoing restructuring, which includes voluntary redundancy programmes for their staff. These measures come amid a challenging economic landscape and are expected to complicate long-term transformation efforts within the NHS.
Source: HSJ, 12 March 2025
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University Hospitals Dorset introduces smoke-free policy
University Hospitals Dorset has implemented a smoke-free policy across all its sites, effective from No Smoking Day on 12th March 2025. The ban covers smoking in all areas such as entrances, car parks, and outdoor spaces at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch hospitals, as well as other trust locations across Dorset.
While vaping is still permitted, it must occur at least three metres away from doors and windows. This move aims to promote healthier choices and reduce the risks of smoking-related diseases, with additional support provided through the trust’s Tobacco Addiction Care and Treatment Service for patients who smoke.
Source: Bournemouth Echo, 12 March 2025
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Harrogate Charity addresses vaping misconceptions to aid smoking cessation
Yorkshire Cancer Research is working to dispel misconceptions about vaping, emphasising its effectiveness in helping people quit smoking. Research demonstrates that vaping poses a significantly lower cancer risk compared to smoking, yet data from Action on Smoking and Health from 2024 showed that 50% of adults wrongly believed vaping was more harmful or as harmful as smoking, an increase from 33% in 2022.
To combat this, the charity has invested over £2.7 million in stop smoking services across the region, with thousands successfully quitting through its programmes. It also supports the integration of vaping into smoking cessation services, with 60% of successful quits using a vape and nicotine replacement therapy. While acknowledging the need for regulations to prevent youth vaping, the charity stresses that vaping should remain available as a quitting tool for smokers. Yorkshire Cancer Research also backs policy measures such as raising the minimum age for cigarette sales and a levy on the tobacco industry to fund smoking cessation efforts.
Source: Your Harrogate, 12 March 2025
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Thousands quit smoking through Dorset vape swap scheme
A government-funded initiative in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole has helped thousands of smokers quit by encouraging them to switch to vaping. The Swap to Stop scheme, launched by Public Health Dorset, has provided nearly 15,000 free vape starter kits to adults. It is reported that over 3,500 participants remained smoke-free after four weeks, supporting research that suggests a 28-day period without smoking increases long-term success. Health officials acknowledge that while vaping is not risk-free, it is a significantly safer alternative to smoking.
Source: Bournemouth Echo, 13 March 2025
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Burnley Council invests £200,000 in smoking reduction initiative
Burnley Council is set to allocate £200,000 towards tackling high smoking rates in the borough, where nearly one-fifth of residents smoke. The funding, provided by Lancashire County Council, will support a two-year programme focused on engaging the voluntary, community, and faith sectors to promote smoking cessation. The initiative aims to recruit community champions, increase referrals to stop smoking services, and provide tailored support, including digital tools and peer groups. Plans also include structured health programmes combining smoking cessation with physical activity, as well as awareness campaigns highlighting the risks of smoking and nicotine addiction.
Source: Lancashire Telegraph, 11 March 2025
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Thousands in Cornwall still smoking despite health risks
An estimated 60,000 people in Cornwall continue to smoke, despite ongoing health warnings and efforts to reduce smoking rates. While the number of smokers has declined over the past decade, the county’s smoking prevalence remains slightly above the national average.
Smoking is more common in deprived areas, and many of those seeking support to quit are aged between 45 and 50. Local services, including drop-in and virtual support, are available to help residents stop smoking. Health officials stress that quitting brings immediate and long-term health benefits, reducing the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
Source: BBC News, 12 March 2025
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Somerset man shares personal loss to urge smokers to quit
A Somerset man who lost his father to lung cancer is encouraging others to stop smoking after witnessing the devastating effects of the disease. Having started smoking as a child, he only quit in his 50s following his father’s diagnosis and death at 61. His experience is now part of Smoke Free Somerset, a new campaign aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the county from 60,000 to 15,000 by 2030.
Led by NHS Somerset and Somerset Council, the initiative includes partnerships with health services, Trading Standards, and schools. Officials emphasise that vaping should be used solely as a quitting aid and encourage people to access stop smoking services through their GP.
Source: BBC News, 12 March 2025
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Guernsey public backs stricter smoking regulations
A recent survey conducted by Guernsey's Health Improvement Commission revealed strong public support for further restrictions on smoking. Over 900 people were surveyed about potential measures, with the highest level of backing for banning smoking in outdoor playgrounds (82%). Other proposed restrictions, including prohibiting smoking outside pubs and limiting tobacco retailers in certain areas, received less support.
Guernsey, which has a history of pioneering anti-smoking policies, introducing smoking bans in indoor public spaces in 2005, ahead of the UK. Some local business owners and smokers expressed opposition to extending smoking bans outdoors, arguing it could negatively impact social settings. The results will inform future policy development by the island’s Health and Social Care Committee.
Source: BBC News, 12 March 2025
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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