Durham County Council has won a national award for its successes reducing local smoking rates as well as its work with local NHS trusts.
The council has been given a CleaR award for reducing the number of people who smoke and for its work with NHS trusts in ensuring people, particularly those in hospital, those with poor mental health and pregnant women, receive support in quitting smoking.
The panel commended the awareness campaigns run by the council-commissioned programme – Fresh Smoke Free.
The CLeaR Partnership, which works with local authorities across England to support progress in reducing smoking, awarded the accolade.
The partnership comprises Public Health England (PHE), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Cancer Research UK.
Cllr Lucy Hovvels, Cabinet member for adult and health services with the council, said: “Durham County Council, as a partner on the County Durham Tobacco Control Alliance, is very committed to reducing smoking in our communities and we are delighted that this has been recognised.”
Alison Cox, director of cancer prevention at Cancer Research UK said: “Durham’s impressive record on this crucial public health issue is to be applauded.
“Smoking is the largest cause of premature deaths in the UK and remains the public health challenge of our generation.
“With the determination and commitment of councils like Durham we will safeguard the progress made to date and can look forward to a future free from the harms of smoking.”
Left to right: Dianne Woodall, Durham County Council, Martin Dockrell, head of tobacco control programme at Public Health England with Eve Wouldhave and Annie Pluse from County Durham NHS Stop Smoking Service.
