ORGANISATIONS committed to reducing smoking in the district as part of a battle against cancer are blazing a trail.

The pioneering work of NHS bodies and councils in the region has been highlighted in Westminster.

Professor Sean Duffy, leader of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, was invited to address the Parliamentary launch of an NHS 'Smokefree' pledge in recognition of the efforts being carried out locally.

Behind the alliance is a health and care partnership which includes Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Council, the district care trust and Airedale, Wharfedale & Craven Clinical Commissioning Group.

Prof Duffy told the event that the partnership had recognised the importance of working together across the public health sector to support people.

Currently there are an estimated 330,000-plus smokers in the region, and cancer is the biggest cause of death from illness in every age group.

"Lung cancer is our most common cancer and biggest killer so supporting people to stop smoking is therefore a key commitment for us – in both reducing cancer incidence and preventing recurrence," said Prof Duffy.

"That's why our cancer alliance is applying a unified, system-wide approach to all its activity, recognising the importance of both NHS organisations and public health teams in local councils in tackling this problem.

"This includes implementing the so-called 'Ottawa model', which has been shown to increase the rates at which healthcare providers advise and assist smokers to quit, increase long-term smoking abstinence rates and reduce the longer-term pressures on the NHS, as well as reducing numbers of deaths attributable to tobacco use."

Work includes helping smokers to quit through support from surgeries and community services, as well as hospitals and treatment centres.

Among other elements are reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and implementing effective regulation, including – with West Yorkshire Trading Standards – tackling the illicit supply and demand of tobacco.

Scott Crosby, of Public Health England, said the region was the worst in the country for smoking but the alliance was determined to help change that.

"We want to be the best and to ensure the next generation of children born in our region never start smoking and grow-up free of the terrible health harms associated with tobacco," he added.

"It's great to have strong, consistent support from our NHS locally and to be able to work with it to help make that happen.

"Our ambition is to see over 100,000 fewer smokers by 2021."

Rob Webster, the lead chief executive for the partnership, said: "Reducing smoking, particularly for vulnerable people and those with mental health problems, will also reduce health inequalities and save lives.

"But we can only deliver our pledges by working together, and this pledge is a recognition of the power of our partnership."