Scots smoke ban 'improved health'

[Guest guest]

Heart attack hospital admissions were compared

The Scottish smoking ban has led to a significant advance in public

health, the most detailed scientific study of the measure so far has

suggested.

Comparisons at nine hospitals revealed that there was a 17% year-on-

year drop in heart attack admissions since the ban was introduced in

March 2006.

 

It says the quality of air in pubs is now equivalent to that found

outdoors.

 

Exposure to second-hand smoke north of the border is down by 40%

among adults and children, the study added.

 

Scientific evidence

 

Scotland's deputy chief medical officer said this was proof that the

ban has produced major health gains.

 

But Scottish publicans claim that many of the benefits could have

been achieved without a ban and complain that bar sales have declined

because of it.

 

The findings will be presented to an international conference in

Edinburgh on the ban organised by the Scottish Government.

 

They are based on scientific evidence collected from routine health

data, as well as research projects undertaken by government

scientists and Scottish universities.

 

Admissions to nine major Scottish hospitals were also compared in the

year before and after the introduction of the ban.

 

After the Scotland banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, Wales

and Northern Ireland followed suit in April 2007 and England did the

same in July 2007.