RCN welcomes plans to reduce smoking-related deaths

Published: 01 February 2010

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (1st February) welcomed the new Department of Health strategy to halve the number of smokers by 2020.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said:

“The serious health consequences of tobacco are undisputed, and nurses will welcome moves to reduce the number of people who continue to smoke. The plans include robust ideas to stop young people smoking in the first place, such as clamping down on the sale and marketing of tobacco.

“Nurses working in the primary care sector already play an influential role in helping people to quit smoking. In order to help greater numbers of people kick the habit, sustained investment to provide nurses with the skills and knowledge to deliver expert advice and appropriate treatment is vital.”

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Notes for Editors
For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.