Imperial College London Primary Care

There has been much discussion recently regarding banning smoking inside cars carrying children, in the lead up to MPs voting to legislate against it by 376 to 107 votes. The decision comes after recommendation of the move by the Royal College of Physicians and a letter in the British Medical Journal signed by 584 physicians calling for a ban.  
The vote by MPs allows, but does not require, ministers to bring in the ban, and the shadow health minister has called on minsters not to delay in implementing the move. The move has predictably been opposed by organisations such as the tobacco industry fundedFreedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco and the move is apparently opposed by the Deputy Prime Minister. However, in addition to the well-publicised health benefits, the move will also reduce health inequalities.  Analysis of the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Survey of 11 to 15 year olds surveyed in 2012 found that overall 37.0% of these children had been exposed to …

Thomas Cowling from the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College London won the Early Career Researcher Award at the 2014 South-East England Regional Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Meeting. The meeting was held at Madingley Hall near Cambridge from January 30-31. Tom's research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is part of his Doctoral Research Training Fellowship. Tom's presentation was "Access to General Practice and Attendances at A&E Departments in England". The picture to the left shows Tom receiving his award from Professor David Mant from the University of Oxford.