Category : News
Date : 24.03.2004
Printable version
Almost three
quarters of people (73%) who responded to a 91Èȱ¬ public health consultation
want the Government to ban smoking in all public places in order to
cut down on illnesses associated with smoking and passive smoking.
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The consultation carried out for Your NHS: For Better
or Worse (91Èȱ¬ ONE, Wednesday 24 March, 9.00pm) heard the views of
more than 9,000 people on public health issues such as obesity, smoking
and sexual health.
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It mirrors a separate consultation being carried out
by the Department of Health on similar issues.
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The results of the 91Èȱ¬ consultation will be revealed
in the hour long 91Èȱ¬ ONE special and will also be presented to the Department
of Health.
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On the subject of obesity 81% of respondents said that
advertisements for fast food and sweets should be banned from television
during children's viewing time and 72% of the respondents said crisps,
chocolates and fizzy drinks machines should be banned from all school
premises.
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Yet the consultation found that almost half (54%) of
those questioned did not think there should be an additional tax on
high fat foods.
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In the arena of sexual health 60% of those who took
part in the consultation said that regular, mandatory screening for
sexually transmitted infections should not be provided by the NHS for
all adults over the age of 16.
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A higher proportion of those aged 24 and under supported
screening (53%) than those aged 55+ (43%).
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Furthermore more than two thirds (64%) said condoms
should be freely available on demand to all secondary school pupils.
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Again those aged 24 and under were more supportive
(72%) than those aged 55 + (39%).
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Those surveyed were asked whether patients whose medical
condition can be linked to smoking, drinking or obesity should be given
a lower priority for treatment.
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A third (33%) answered yes to this, while 67% disagreed.
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However 65% said that bottles of alcohol should carry
a Government health warning.
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Ian Willmore from ASH, Action on Smoking and Health,
said: "This poll shows that the public is demanding action to end
smoking in the workplace and enclosed public places.
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"This is the single most effective thing the Government
could do to cut smoking rates and protect smokers and non-smokers alike.
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"It is time for the Government to recognise the
overwhelming public demand for action."
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Neville Rigby, Director of Policy and Public Affairs
for the International Obesity Task Force, said: "We welcome the
poll results which support the recommendations we have made to the Government
to take action along these lines.
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"We recommended in submissions to the parliamentary
sub-committee investigating obesity that exactly this should happen.
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"There should be restrictions on the marketing
to children through television and other media and there should be withdrawal
of vending machines and other marketing to children in schools."
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Notes to Editors
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Any use of the above statistics must be fully credited
to 91Èȱ¬ ONE's Your NHS: For Better or Worse.
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The full results are available to the media on request
from 91Èȱ¬ News Publicity. Use the Contact Us icon on the left-hand side
of this page.
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The consultation is not a scientific poll.
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During the period 8 to 23 March 2004 people were asked
to answer questions by telephone or online. A total of 9,479 people
responded.
