Agenda item

Ameilia Thorp, Public Health Specialist, to present an update on the progress of the Tobacco Control Programme

Ameilia Thorp, Public Health Specialist, presented an update on the progress of the Tobacco Control Programme with the aid of the following PowerPoint presentation:-

 

Why prioritise tobacco control

-        Smoking was the leading cause of preventable death and ill health in Rotherham and England

-        Smoking rates in Rotherham continued to be higher than national rates (13.5% compared to 10.4%)

-        Biggest contributor to health inequalities

-        Rotherham had worse outcomes than England on some indicators used to monitor the impact of smoking on population health

 

Smoking Prevalence

Year	Rotherham	England
2014	19.4%	17.8%
2024	13.5%	10.4%
Smoking at Time of Delivery
2014/15	18.4%	11.7%
2024/25	8.8%	6.1%

 

Quit for Good – April, 2025-March, 2026

-        1,754 people set a quit date

-        1,212 people successfully quit

-        6^th highest successful quit rate out of 153 authorities in England (69%)

-        Highest number of people setting a quit date resulting in the highest number of successful quits since 2016-17

 

Work Plan:

Strategy and Coordination

-      Actions within the ‘Strategy and Coordination’ priority area have remained on track, with quarterly Tobacco Control Steering Group meetings continuing to bring partners together to oversee delivery of the Work Plan. Local data is also regularly updated, analysed and reported through appropriate channels to inform priority setting and the planning of tobacco control activity.

Community Stop Smoking Service

-        Personalised quit plans

-        In-person and virtual options

-        Medications to support quitting

-        Nicotine replacement therapy

-        Support groups in community venues across the Borough

-        Vape starter kits

 

Smoking in Pregnancy Service

-        Highest successful quit rate recorded, 91% of people setting a quit date successfully stopping smoking

-        Smoking prevalence in pregnancy had reduced over time

-        Supporting people to quit increasingly required intensive, personalised and sustained interventions due to increased likelihood of complex needs

-        Improved quit outcomes highlighted effective support for pregnant smokers with complex needs

 

Reducing variation

-        Local enhanced service

Expanded support into Primary Care

Supported 388 people (2025-26)

-        Strengthened referral pathways

Very Brief Advice (VBA) training delivered to Tenancy Support Team

Plans to expand this over the coming year into other housing and health services

-        Cardio Vascular Disease workplace health checks

Opportunity to reach manual workers

1,875 health checks completed since 2025

 

Enforcement

-        Key achievements in 2025-26

Permanent Trading Standards Manager now in post

New reporting pathway established for schools to report vaping and underage sales concerns

-        Progress had been challenging due to limited Trading Standards capacity creating risks to delivery of this priority

-        Proposal developed to outline investment required to fully resource Trading Standards within RMBC

-        Tackling illicit products support

Reduced smoking and vaping uptake among children and young people

Protection from unsafe and unregulated products

Community safety and safeguarding

Disruption of organised criminal activity

 

Stop the Start: Campaigns

-        Continued membership of Breathe (Yorkshire and Humber Collaborative) and the South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance

-        Supported the delivery of 2 regional stop smoking campaigns

-        Yorkshire and Humber campaign generated significant media coverage across local, regional and national broadcast, print and online outlets

-        Coverage significant improved locally because of a local resident who shared his story

 

Stop the Start: Children and Young People

-        In recent years concerns have shifted from youth smoking to increased levels of youth vaping

-        The latest Rotherham School Survey reflected this:

95% of students report never smoking

78% of students report never vaping

-        As a result, many actions previous included in this priority area had been transferred to the new Reducing Vaping Harms Action Plan to better address emerging challenges

 

Reducing Vaping Harms

-        Establishment of the Reducing Vaping Harms Group

-        Development of the Reducing Vaping Harms Action Plan

-        Publication of the Vape (and Associated Products) Guidance for Schools

-        Roll out of training off for schools that supports them to embed a “Vape-free approach”

-        Progressed towards embedding a dedicated Children and Young People’s Stop Smoking and Vaping Advisor into the Community Stop Smoking Service

-        Updated the Rotherham Position Paper on Vapes

 

The Chair stated that she was very proud of the progress made to date and wanted to place on record her thanks to all involved and also noted the efforts made by local schools.

 

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

 

·       It was confirmed that the data was self-reported via surveys conducted on both an annual and a 3 year basis. It was noted that both sets of figures matched to assure their validity.

·       The negative impact of vapes on children was discussed. It was noted that the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board were focussing on this issue.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress made to date by partners to deliver actions within the Tobacco Control Work Plan be noted.

 

(2)  That the progress made to date by partners to deliver actions with the Reducing Vaping Harms Action Plan be noted.

 

(3)  That the updated Rotherham Position Paper on Vapes, developed in partnership with key stakeholders across the Borough, be approved.