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ASH Daily News

9 December 2005

[View html version: http://www.globalink.org/nbuk]

HEADLINES

NHS may deny treatment based on 'self inflicted' illness

Ministers want a free vote on smoking ban legislation

Londoners back smoking ban in public places

Cancer fears for Rick Parfitt of band Status Quo

James Bond goes smokefree

FULL TEXT


NHS may deny treatment based on 'self inflicted' illness


People who are obese, who smoke heavily or drink excessively could be
denied surgery or drugs following guidance by a Government agency.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which
advises on the clinical and cost effectiveness of treatments for the
National Health Service (NHS) said that in some cases the
"self-inflicted" nature of an illness should be taken into account.

The report bars any discrimination against patients on grounds of age
alone.
NICE stressed that patients should not be discriminated against by
doctors simply because they smoked or were overweight. Its ruling should
apply only if the treatment was likely to be less effective, or not work
because of an unhealthy habit.

The agency also insisted that its decision was not an edict for the
whole NHS but guidance for its own appraisal committees when reaching
judgments on new drugs or procedures.

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said there was a
danger of primary care trusts or "cash-strapped hospitals denying
treatment to people whose lifestyle they disapprove of," he said.
"Treatment decisions involving people's lifestyle should be based on
clinical reasons, not grounds of cost. The NHS is there to keep people
healthy, not to sit in judgment on individual lifestyles."

The Daily Telegraph 9/12/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/09/nice09.x
ml&sSheet=/portal/2005/12/09/ixportaltop.html



Ministers want a free vote on smoking ban legislation


Cabinet members are calling for a free vote for Labour MPs on a total
smoking ban in public places and private clubs, warning the government
cannot afford a defeat on the issue in the New Year before controversial
legislation on education.

The chief whip, Hilary Armstrong, is resisting the free vote, arguing it
will set a bad precedent since smoking cannot be genuinely classified as
a personal conscience issue, and should not therefore be liberated from
the party whip.

Ministers are warning though that enough Labour MPs will support a total
ban in public places to ensure Mr Blair's authority will be damaged in a
vote.

The Tories have already given their backbenchers a free vote, making a
government defeat likely. But the chances of Ms Armstrong staving off a
big rebellion is made more difficult by the previous opposition to a
partial ban coming from the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, and the
chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.

The all-party health select committee is expected to support a total ban
in a report due before Christmas and before the bill's report stage

The Guardian 9/12/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1663162,00.html


ASH note:

The Government only narrowly survived a key vote on smokefree
legislation at the Committee Stage of the Health Bill yesterday. By only
1 vote (8 to 7) the Government defeated an Opposition amendment to
remove the Government's planned exemption from smokefree legislation for
pubs that do not serve prepared food.

The result will increase pressure on the Government to make concessions
before the large threatened rebellion on the issue at Report Stage.

Amendment 1 (moved by Andrew Lansley MP, Steve Webb MP, Stephen Williams
MP) would have deleted Clause 3.4(a) from the Bill, and was intended to
prevent the planned exemption for non-food pubs.

Ian Willmore of ASH said that "This narrow squeak for the Government
comes in a Committee whose Labour backbenchers have been hand-picked for
their loyalty to whatever the Government proposes. Not a single one of
the many Labour MPs who attacked the planned exemptions in their
speeches at Second Reading was allowed on the Committee."

He went on to say "if the Government is having problems getting these
exemptions even through this carefully selected group, it is clearly in
desperate trouble. The time has come for the Government to accept the
inevitable, and accept that the Bill will be amended to ensure
comprehensive smokefree legislation covering all workplaces and enclosed
public places."



Londoners back smoking ban in public places


Nearly three quarters of Londoners support a smoking ban in all work
places including all pubs and private members clubs, a new survey shows.

A MORI poll for the Greater London Authority found 73% of people in the
capital back such a move, compared to 65% last year, with 22% are
against.

The survey, which is based on a representative section of 1,006
Londoners, showed a significant increase in the number of people
supporting a ban since a similar poll last year. When asked about
specific places that should become smoke free, 70% wanted smokefree
cafes compared to 65% the previous year and 55% favoured smokefree pubs
and bars, 13% more than 12 months ago.

The Londoner December 2005
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/londoner/index.jsp



Cancer fears for Rick Parfitt of band Status Quo


Rock band Status Quo has cancelled its sell-out UK tour amid fears that
band member Rick Parfitt may have throat cancer.

Doctors found a tumour on his right vocal chord and a lesion on his left
vocal chord and have told him there was a very high chance it was
malignant.

Heavy smoker Parfitt, 57, broke the news to the band and Status Quo
immediately cancelled their remaining tour dates.

There are 2,300 new cases of throat cancer are diagnosed each year in
the UK. Around 80% of these are men between the ages of 55 and 65. The
main risk factors for throat cancer are smoking and heavy drinking.

Daily Mirror 9/12/05
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16463977%26method=full%26siteid
=94762%26headline=quo%2ds%2drick%2dbattles%2dthroat%2dcancer%2d-name_pag
e.html



James Bond goes smokefree


Producers of the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, have decided that
James Bond played by actor Daniel Craig will be smokefree in the film.
An insider said the Bond would be smokefree because of the "need for
Hollywood to set an example to young people."

Daily Star 9/12/05

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Sarah Ward
Information Manager
Action on Smoking & Health (ASH)
102 Clifton Street
London
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