DAVID HOWARTH MP TACKLES SMOKING WITH "UNSMOKE" PROJECT

6.48.03pm GMT Sun 2nd Mar 2008

David Howarth and the Unsmoke Team

David Howarth, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, attended the launch of the "Unsmoke" project at Addenbrooke's Hospital yesterday Friday 29 February.

"Unsmoke" is a study lead by a team of student doctors from the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. It will explore why some people find it hard to adhere to NHS hospitals' smoke-free policies.

David Howarth commented:

"I'm happy to support the "Unsmoke" project. It is likely to provide interesting results on the reasons that motivate some smokers to disregard smoke-free policies.

"The smoke-free policy adopted by Addenbrooke's has been very successful so far in reducing on-site smoking and passive smoking. Smoking is a matter of great concern, both for smokers and passive smokers and we must act together to reduce smoking-induced health risks.

"Tom Parks and his team are doing an outstanding job and I'm glad to support them."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The project is supported by Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust. The Unsmoke team hope to evaluate smokers', ex-smokers' and non-smokers' perceptions of exposure to passive smoke at the hospital, and explain why some smokers are compliant with the hospital's smoke-free policy and why some are not.

2. The project has an official website at www.unsmoke.org.uk