UK will review partial smoking ban in 2010, MPs' committee told
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《英国医生杂志》
The government will review its policy on its partial ban on smoking in public places three years after the new legislation is introduced in summer 2007, MPs were told last week.
Speaking to the parliamentary select committee on health on the same day that she unveiled the Health Bill, the secretary of state for health, Patricia Hewitt, said the bill would mean smoking is banned in "virtually" every enclosed work place and public place in England.
"We will monitor the impact from day one, and we will have a full review at the end of three years," she told the MPs.
The health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, told MPs that the ban would mean 99% of the workforce would have a smoke-free environment
Credit: PA/EMPICS
"This is a very significant step for public health and a very, very significant step towards the complete ban that I know you and many others would like to see.
"It will mean that 99% of the workforce will be able to enjoy a completely smoke-free environment," she said. She added that the ban would help encourage people to give up smoking and reduce thousands of deaths from diseases related to smoking.
Ms Hewitt said that because of concerns for staff working in bars that would be exempt from the ban as they didn't serve food, smoking would not be allowed near the bar areas, and a consultation would be held on the possibility of creating separate smoking rooms or areas in these places.
On another topic, she was asked by the MPs about the ability of patients in the future to use the "choose and book" system of getting hospital appointments through their GPs and about the danger that some hospital doctors would be underused while others would have long waiting lists.
Ms Hewitt said, "If you have a particular doctor or consultant who simply can't attract patients, then I think the management of the hospital will draw the necessary conclusions and either find a way to improve the service or do something else.
"You need to look at whether there was an issue there of clinical quality or whether it was an issue about the patient experience and how this doctor was actually treating patients.(Adrian O'Dowd)
Speaking to the parliamentary select committee on health on the same day that she unveiled the Health Bill, the secretary of state for health, Patricia Hewitt, said the bill would mean smoking is banned in "virtually" every enclosed work place and public place in England.
"We will monitor the impact from day one, and we will have a full review at the end of three years," she told the MPs.
The health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, told MPs that the ban would mean 99% of the workforce would have a smoke-free environment
Credit: PA/EMPICS
"This is a very significant step for public health and a very, very significant step towards the complete ban that I know you and many others would like to see.
"It will mean that 99% of the workforce will be able to enjoy a completely smoke-free environment," she said. She added that the ban would help encourage people to give up smoking and reduce thousands of deaths from diseases related to smoking.
Ms Hewitt said that because of concerns for staff working in bars that would be exempt from the ban as they didn't serve food, smoking would not be allowed near the bar areas, and a consultation would be held on the possibility of creating separate smoking rooms or areas in these places.
On another topic, she was asked by the MPs about the ability of patients in the future to use the "choose and book" system of getting hospital appointments through their GPs and about the danger that some hospital doctors would be underused while others would have long waiting lists.
Ms Hewitt said, "If you have a particular doctor or consultant who simply can't attract patients, then I think the management of the hospital will draw the necessary conclusions and either find a way to improve the service or do something else.
"You need to look at whether there was an issue there of clinical quality or whether it was an issue about the patient experience and how this doctor was actually treating patients.(Adrian O'Dowd)