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10/11/2004
Local Ministers urged to follow Scottish lead on smoking ban
The British Medical Association for Northern Ireland (BMA NI) today welcomed a decision by the Scottish Executive to ban smoking in all enclosed public places and urged local Ministers to follow suite.
Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell told the Scottish Parliament today that a "comprehensive ban" on smoking in public places would be introduced by the spring of 2006.
Dr Peter Maguire, the BMA's Deputy Chairman of the Board of Science and a consultant anaesthetist in Newry, described the news as “brilliant”.
“The new legislation will save lives and protect health in Scotland. Scottish politicians have listened to the evidence on second-hand smoke and have put the health of their citizens first,” he said. “We need our Ministers in Northern Ireland to do the same.
"The reason doctors are so passionate about wanting a smoking ban is that every day we see the devastating effects of smoking and second-hand smoke. We are the ones who have to tell our patients that they have lung cancer or heart disease.
“We are the ones who treat patients with chronic respiratory illness - it is heartbreaking to see someone's life end like that, bed-bound, struggling to breathe and unable to do simple tasks."
Earlier, the Scottish Executive considered a range of options but agreed unanimously to introduce an all-out ban on smoking in public places.
Mr McConnell said the country's health rates were "lamentable" not least because of smoking.
Under the Scottish Executive's proposals fines of up to £2,500 would be levied on employers, and liquor licences removed for non-compliance under the new laws outlined today.
(MB/SP)
Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell told the Scottish Parliament today that a "comprehensive ban" on smoking in public places would be introduced by the spring of 2006.
Dr Peter Maguire, the BMA's Deputy Chairman of the Board of Science and a consultant anaesthetist in Newry, described the news as “brilliant”.
“The new legislation will save lives and protect health in Scotland. Scottish politicians have listened to the evidence on second-hand smoke and have put the health of their citizens first,” he said. “We need our Ministers in Northern Ireland to do the same.
"The reason doctors are so passionate about wanting a smoking ban is that every day we see the devastating effects of smoking and second-hand smoke. We are the ones who have to tell our patients that they have lung cancer or heart disease.
“We are the ones who treat patients with chronic respiratory illness - it is heartbreaking to see someone's life end like that, bed-bound, struggling to breathe and unable to do simple tasks."
Earlier, the Scottish Executive considered a range of options but agreed unanimously to introduce an all-out ban on smoking in public places.
Mr McConnell said the country's health rates were "lamentable" not least because of smoking.
Under the Scottish Executive's proposals fines of up to £2,500 would be levied on employers, and liquor licences removed for non-compliance under the new laws outlined today.
(MB/SP)
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