The Welsh Government has announced that smoking will be banned from school grounds, playgrounds and hospital grounds as part of the Public Health (Wales) Act. This makes Wales the first country in the UK to extend its smoking ban to public places and was a key call within the RCPCH’s State of Child Health (Wales) report.
In response Dr Mair Parry, Officer for Wales at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:
“This is a significant step to improving child health. Exposure to second hand smoke can have worrying health effects on children, including breathing problems, reduced lung function and asthma. And of course the less children see people smoking the better; evidence suggests children and teenagers whose parents smoke are more likely to smoke themselves. Wales is leading the way on smoke-free legislation – and the health of children in Wales will certainly be better for it.”
The RCPCH’s State of Child Health (Wales) 2017 report recommended:
- The Welsh Government should pass the Public Health (Wales) Bill and extend bans on smoking in public places to school grounds, playgrounds and NHS grounds.
- Public Health Wales should undertake sustained public health campaigns about the dangers of second hand smoke