The NHS Smokefree Pledge

By Julie Griffiths on 15 January 2018 NHS Smoking

The Smokefree Action Coalition has launched the NHS Smokefree Pledge. 

The Pledge is designed to be a clear and visible way for NHS organisations to show their commitment to helping smokers to quit and to providing smokefree environments, which support them. 

It has been endorsed by the public health minister Steve Brine, and the chief executives of NHS England and Public Health England. 

Steve said: ‘While smoking rates are at an all-time low, it is still our country’s biggest preventable killer – so we are absolutely committed to helping people quit for life. The NHS Smokefree Pledge supports the bold ambitions set out in our new Tobacco Control Plan. It is fantastic to see the NHS making such a powerful statement to help us push for a smokefree generation.’

Signing the Pledge is simple and it is a visible commitment to a smokefree NHS. 

Participants simply commit to the actions listed in the Pledge, download and print a copy, and get it signed by the chair, chief executive and medical director or clinical lead. It can then be displayed somewhere visible, so that people can see the commitment to delivering a smokefree generation. 

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘Most smokers want to quit and we’re seeing good progress on lower smoking rates. To build on this we’d now like to see NHS organisations across the country sign up to the NHS Smokefree Pledge.’

A downloadable copy of the NHS Smokefree Pledge is available here.