Smoking ban will cut disease (From The Bolton News)

Smoking ban will cut disease

3:41pm Wednesday 27th June 2007 in

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The smoking ban will slash the number of people being diagnosed with killer conditions, according to one of Bolton's top chest doctors.

Dr Kevin Jones, who is an acute medical physician and a thoracic specialist at the Royal Bolton Hospital, believes the ban will almost immediately reduce the number of people having heart attacks and strokes, which can often be caused by smoking.

And the longer term effects - a reduction in lung cancer and other chronic chest diseases - will be seen over the coming years.

There are just three days until the smoking is outlawed in all enclosed public places and Dr Jones is confident it will have a huge impact on the health of Bolton people.

He said: "The ban will have such a big effect because I think it will really help people give up smoking. Most smokers want to give up and any push they can be given is only a good thing.

"The effect on the numbers of heart attacks and strokes will be immediate, but the impact on lung cancer and other lung disease, such as emphysema, could take longer, although we should see an effect within the next five years."

Rates of lung cancer have been rising dramatically in Bolton over recent years.

In 2006 249 people were told they had the killer disease, compared to 179 in 2005, 157 in 2004 and 163 in 2003 - a rise of more than 50 per cent in just four years.

Record numbers of people are also being admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with the killer condition, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Between April 2004 and April 2005, 462 patients were admitted with attacks of COPD, but in the same period the following year more than 600 people had to be rushed to hospital.

In Bolton 29.6 per cent of people smoke, and in some areas, such as Johnson Fold, this figure can be as high as 65 per cent.

The national average is 27 per cent.

When these figures were revealed The Bolton News launched its Stub It Out campaign, calling for smoking to be banned in all enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs and private members bars.

MPs voted with a massive majority for such a ban in February last year.

The ban will be introduced on July 1 and anyone caught flouting it will face a £50 fixed penalty notice.