ATTEMPTS are being made by local NHS and council officials at reducing the harmful effects of smoking.

Leaders from South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and Warwickshire County Council recently met at Shire Hall, Warwick, where they signed the NHS Statement of Support for Tobacco Control.

The document has been developed to enable the health community to support colleagues in local government in their tobacco control work.

By signing the statement SWFT is committed to actively support local work to reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities.

This includes work to develop plans with partners and local communities, play a role in tackling smoking through appropriate interventions such as make every contact count, protect tobacco control work from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry, support Government action at national level, participate in local and regional networks for support and join the Smokefree Action Coalition.

SWFT Chief Executive Glen Burley said: “One of our key objectives focusses on empowering local people to manage their own health and wellbeing and stopping smoking is one of the best ways to do this.

"We demonstrated our commitment to reducing the negative impact of smoking when we implemented our smoke free sites policy on January 1, 2015.

"Since then our stance has been that you can’t smoke on our sites but you can get effective help and support to stop.

"By signing this statement we’re signifying that we will work in partnership with our public health partners at Warwickshire County Council as we continue to reduce smoking."

Councillor Izzi Seccombe added: "We welcome the commitment that SWFT has made in supporting tobacco control work in Warwickshire and look forward to continue to work in partnership to promote a smoke free environment."

The declaration has also been widely endorsed by leading figures and organisations in the public health community including NHS England, Public Health England and the British Medical Association.