Department of Health and Social Care visits to see smokefree success at SLaM
On Friday 11 July, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), together with colleagues from King’s College Hospital and King’s College London, welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to our Denmark Hill smokefree sites.
The visit included site tours, presentations from Smokefree Teams, and a roundtable discussion on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill - a key feature of the Government’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan. The Bill aims to create a smokefree generation and reduce smoking-related illness, which remains the UK’s leading preventable cause of illness and premature death.
During the visit, the DHSC delegation praised our efforts, highlighting the value of seeing smokefree settings in action.
National smoking rates are now at 10.5%, yet around 50% of adults admitted to SLaM still smoke - a stark reminder of the urgent need for targeted action. The visit highlighted how SLaM is leading that effort.
Driven by strong leadership across the organisation - from frontline staff to the Board - and shaped by the voices of patients and communities, we’re making meaningful progress in creating smokefree spaces and embedding tobacco dependence treatment into everyday care.
Reflecting on the visit, SLaM's Deputy Chief Nurse, Helen Kelsall said:
“It was a privilege to host the visit to the DHSC to share our journey in smoke free care. We welcome future collaboration and support the Vape and tobacco bill as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the mortality gap for the people we serve”.
As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill continues through Parliament, SLaM will remain an active voice in shaping policy and supporting long-term prevention efforts.
If you would like any further information about our smokefree work, please visit our website: https://slam.nhs.uk/smokefree or email smokefreeready@slam.nhs.uk.
