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19 October 2006 “PCT AND FIRE SERVICE IN HISTORIC PACT” Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT has formed a new partnership with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in the fight against smoking. Both agencies are keen to reduce the number of smokers in the Borough. Not only is smoking the largest single cause of premature death in the UK, it is also one of the main causes of fires. Both parties are also anxious to ensure fire safety checks are conducted in the homes of vulnerable people. The new agreement between the two organisations, signed at today’s PCT Board meeting, specifically aims to reduce the number of accidental fire related deaths in the home by 20% by the year 2010. As part of this joint venture, the Fire and Rescue Service will offer home fire safety checks for all households referred by the PCT. The Fire and Rescue Service will also train NHS staff working in the community to spot hazards in patients' homes. The Fire and Rescue Service will also pass on details of the PCT run Wigan Stop Smoking Service to householders for houses which are not yet smokefree. This will include details of the popular scheme, which allows people to get nicotine replacement products for £6.65 from most local community pharmacies, or free for people exempt from prescription charges. As a unique pilot, PCT staff will train Fire and Rescue Service staff to do brief interventions with smokers they meet in the course of their work. Dr Rona Cruickshank, Acting Director of Public Health for the PCT and Wigan Borough enthused about this initiative saying, “Both the Fire and Rescue Service and the PCT are keen to help people to stop smoking. This partnership will reduce premature deaths due to illness and also reduce fires. The two organisations working together in this way is a very welcome development.” Mr John Harding, Borough Commander of the Fire and Rescue Service for Wigan added, “Working together with the PCT gives both our organisations the opportunity to provide a higher standard of care to the community, both in terms of fire safety in the home and in terms of generally improved healthcare. We are looking forward to developing this partnership for the benefit of the public in the Wigan Borough.” ………………………………end……………………………… Editors Notes Approximately 50% of fire deaths (10 of 23) in the county in 2005/06 had smoking as a contributory factor. Smoking remains the biggest single cause of fatal fires in the county. As regards the health issues surrounding smoking, up to 30,000 people in Wigan Borough may die prematurely, based on present smoking levels. For further information on this press release please contact: |
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