With the sweeping, transformative, unprecedented, [insert-other-O-bot-adjective-here] health care legislation about to hit the nation like a ton of bricks, I thought we would all like to take a glimpse into the future via this purty crystal ball.  Actually, it's not a crystal ball.  It's just the United Kingdom.

Smoking should be banned in all cars as well as in public places where young people congregate, doctors are urging.

The Royal College of Physicians wants England's imminent review of anti-smoking laws to consider such measures to protect the young.

It says passive smoking results in 300,000 extra child visits to GPs in the UK every year for problems such as asthma and bacterial meningitis.

But driving and smoking lobby groups say cars are a "private space".

A number of medical bodies have supported a ban on smoking in cars transporting children, but the RCP goes a significant step further, urging a blanket ban on anyone lighting up in a vehicle - regardless of whether children or indeed any other passengers are inside.

It is calling for a two-pronged approach which would see children protected from second-hand smoke and shielded from the sight of adults smoking - whether in the playground or on the TV.

The RCP's report - Passive Smoking and Children - is being released ahead of the three-year review of the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in England. Similar bans have been introduced across the UK, with Scotland having led the way.

Drawing on a series of studies, the report suggests that in the UK, tens of thousands of youngsters are falling ill as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke.

These calculations include 20,000 chest infections, some 22,000 new cases of asthma and wheezing, as well as 200 cases of bacterial meningitis and 40 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - or cot death.

Each year it claims these account for more than 300,000 visits to a GP - some of which end up in hospital - costing the NHS £23.3m.

The report does concede that these figures are only estimates, but says it is confident they give an "indication" of the number of children who become ill.

I am way too tired to point out how grossly fucking stupid this is.  So I'm just going to go ahead and say that this is fucking stupid. 

Posted by: Ember at 09:52 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 392 words, total size 3 kb.