Agenda item

The Board are invited to receive a presentation from colleagues involved with the Westminster Drugs Project who oversaw the launch of Square Mile Health one year ago.

The Committee received a presentation regarding the Westminster Drugs project, focussing on the improving the health of residents and workers in the Square Mile. Members noted that services offered included smoking cessation and e-cigarette pilot schemes. Accessibility to pharmacies and the relationships with independent pharmacies remained good.

Board Members were mindful that e-cigarettes must be welcomed cautiously as a tool of smoking cessation. This was due to the lack of research into the effects of e-cigarettes. Members agreed that although using e-cigarettes was better than smoking, it was yet to be determined how much better it was. The Board noted that smoking cessation also targeted the daily habits of smokers which led to them smoking. Through the various phases involved it was hoped that the habits leading to smoking would be broken, thus resulting in the user smoking less or not at all.

Resolved - that the presentation be received.