National smoking reduction targets
The targets originally set in the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland were updated in the tobacco action plan A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland and new targets were set for young people in the Scotland's Future is Smoke-free to reflect action in these plans. The current targets are:-
- To reduce the proportion of women who smoke during pregnancy from 29 per cent to 23 per cent between 1995 and 2005 and to 20 per cent by 2010.
- To reduce smoking among adults (16 and over) from 26.5 per cent in 2004 to 22 per cent by 2010.*
- To reduce the level of smoking amongst:
- 13 year old girls from 5% in 2006 to 3% in 2014
- 13 year old boys from 3% in 2006 to 2% in 2014
- 15 year old girls from 18% in 2006 to 14% in 2014
- 15 year old boys from 12% in 2006 to 9% in 2014
- 16 to 24 year olds by 9% from 26.5% in 2006 to 24.1% in 2010
Inequalities targets
In order to step up action to reduce health inequalities the Executive announced new targets aimed at increasing the rate of health improvement for the most deprived communities by 15 per cent by 2008. This includes two new smoking reduction targets:-
- To reduce smoking during pregnancy in the most deprived areas from 35.8 per cent in 2003 to 32.2 per cent in 2008.
- To reduce the smoking rate for adults aged 16 and over in the most deprived areas from 10.9 per cent from 37.3 per cent in 2004 to 33.2 per cent in 2008. *
*These targets were revised in December 2005
Monitoring and evaluation
National Smoking Cessation Monitoring/National Smoking Cessation Database
In July 2005 ISD set up a national web-based smoking cessation system to capture information on people presenting to NHS services in Scotland to help people to stop smoking. The first national monitoring report was published on 26 March 2007 and the second on 25 March 2008. Full details are on http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4647.html
Performance Assessment Framework
NHS Boards' performance will continue to be publicly monitored and evaluated through the HEAT performance management framework. The HEAT target requires NHS Boards to support, through smoking cessation services, 8% of its smoking population in successfully quitting (at 1 month post quit) over the period 2008/9 to 2010/11. Performance against the HEAT targets will be monitored using data held on the smoking cessation services database.
In a letter dated January 17, 2006, to NHS Board Chief Executive's and others involved in cessation, Health Minister Andy Kerr summarised the latest situation on how the performance of cessation services was being managed in all parts of Scotland.
Clearing the Air website
Scotland became the first part of the UK to ban smoking in enclosed public places when legislation came into force at 6am on Sunday, March 26, 2006. Find out more at the Clearing the Air website.
Towards a smokefree society
Towards a Smokefree Conference was held on 10 and 11 September 2007. If you would like to download any of the presentations please click here.