Latest news with #IanWalker
Wall Street Journal
28-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
British American Tobacco Sells 2.5% Stake in Indian Conglomerate ITC for $1.42 Billion
British American Tobacco BATS 1.02%increase; green up pointing triangle said it sold a 2.5% shareholding in Indian conglomerate ITC for 1.05 billion pounds ($1.42 billion), more than initially planned. The FTSE 100 cigarette maker–which houses the Kent, Dunhill and Lucky Strike brands–said Wednesday that it completed the sale of 313 million shares in ITC via an accelerated book-build process. The company said on Tuesday that it was planning to sell a 2.3% stake in ITC. BAT, which previously held 25.4% of ITC, reiterated that it will use the money raised to extend its buyback program by an extra 200 million pounds. This will take the total amount to be bought this year to 1.1 billion pounds. The company plans to start the latest part of share buybacks Thursday and expects to complete it by the end of this year. Write to Ian Walker at
Sky News
19-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Smoking rates increase in some parts of UK - as researchers warn progress has 'stalled'
Smoking rates have increased in some parts of the UK, with researchers warning progress to stop overall has "stalled" in recent years. A study from University College London (UCL) published in the journal Addiction, found the national average for smoking prevalence fell from 25.3% to 16.5% between 2006 and 2024. However, while smoking rates are largely down since the early 2000s, there is an indication rates are starting to rise again in the last four years. The analysis, based on the Smoking Toolkit Study data from 368,057 adults, found that between 2020 and 2024, there was an increase in smoking rates in the South West - which climbed from 16.0% to 18.7%. There were also small increases in the South East (15.4% to 16.8%) and London (15.8% to 17.0%). Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson, of UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: "But across England progress has stalled in recent years, and in some regions smoking rates appear to be increasing. "It's vital that stop smoking services are made easily and equally available across the country, so that everyone - wherever they live - can access the right tools to quit for good." Dr Ian Walker, from Cancer Research UK, said the UK "can't afford to lose any momentum" when it comes to cutting smoking rates. If the Tobacco and Vapes Bill - which is currently working its way through the House of Commons - becomes law, anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought. It would also ban vape advertising and sponsorship. Disposable vapes will be banned from June this year, under separate environmental legislation. 1:10 Smoking rates fall the most in the north In October, the Office for National Statistics' Annual Population Survey estimated about six million adults smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023, the lowest proportion since records began in 2011. The largest and fastest fall in smoking rates was seen in the north of England, where rates almost halved from 28.8% to 15.8%. Dr Jackson said: "Until recently, smoking rates were highest in the north of England, but our study shows that regional differences have narrowed considerably over the past 18 years. "Smoking rates fell most in northern regions, where dedicated regional tobacco control programmes have been largely concentrated. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create the first smoke-free generation and put us on track to a smoke-free UK. "We are also committed to supporting current smokers to quit. We're investing an additional £70m for local Stop Smoking Services this year, and we are working to ensure that all NHS hospitals offer 'opt-out' smoking cessation services."
The Independent
19-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Smoking rates ‘increasing' in some parts of England, study suggests
Progress in slashing smoking rates across England has 'stalled' in recent years, with apparent increases in some areas, researchers have warned. It comes as a study found rates in the North fell faster than the national average, with regional differences narrowing 'considerably' in the last 18 years. Academics from University College London (UCL) analysed Smoking Toolkit Study data from 368,057 adults in England between 2006 and 2024. The study, published in the journal Addiction, suggests the national average for smoking prevalence fell from 25.3% to 16.5% during the period. The largest and fastest fall was in the north of England, where rates almost halved from 28.8% to 15.8%. Rates in the North West went from 28.3% in 2006 to 15.7% in 2024, with rates in Yorkshire and the Humber falling from 30.0% to 16.0%, and 27.4% to 16.0% in the North East in the same period. The fall in the North was faster than the national average and helped narrow 'geographic inequalities in smoking prevalence', academics said. They added: 'Regional tobacco control programmes appeared to contribute to this progress.' However, researchers warned progress in reducing smoking rates nationally in recent years has 'stalled', with apparent increases in some regions. The analysis found that between 2020 and 2024, there was an increase in smoking rates in the South West, which climbed from 16.0% to 18.7%. There were also small increases in the South East (15.4% to 16.8%) and London (15.8% to 17.0%), according to the findings. Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson, of UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: 'Until recently, smoking rates were highest in the north of England, but our study shows that regional differences have narrowed considerably over the past 18 years. 'Smoking rates fell most in northern regions, where dedicated regional tobacco control programmes have been largely concentrated. 'But across England progress has stalled in recent years, and in some regions smoking rates appear to be increasing. 'It's vital that stop smoking services are made easily and equally available across the country, so that everyone – wherever they live – can access the right tools to quit for good.' In October, the Office for National Statistics' Annual Population Survey estimated about six million adults smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023, the lowest proportion since records began in 2011. Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, said: 'A future free from the harms of tobacco is in sight, but we can't afford to lose any momentum. 'Budget pressures and changes to NHS England can't compromise funding for programmes that help people quit – tackling smoking must be a key priority as our health services evolve.' If the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law, anyone born after January 1 2009 will be prevented from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought. The Bill also includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas and in shop windows, bringing them in line with tobacco restrictions. Disposable vapes will be banned from June 2025 under separate environmental legislation. Dr Walker added: 'The world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a crucial opportunity for the UK Government to shield society from the devastating effects of smoking. 'We urge all MPs and Lords to vote to protect the health of the nation, or more lives will be at stake.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create the first smoke-free generation and put us on track to a smoke-free UK. 'We are also committed to supporting current smokers to quit. We're investing an additional £70 million for local Stop Smoking Services this year, and we are working to ensure that all NHS hospitals offer 'opt-out' smoking cessation services.'
Gulf Today
21-02-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Poorest more likely to get cancer — and to die from it
The Independent Cancer death rates are 60 per cent higher in the UK's most deprived areas, new research shows, with the poorest more than 50 per cent more likely to be diagnosed after a trip to A&E than their wealthiest counterparts. A new report from Cancer Research UK has found that there are more than 28,000 extra cancer deaths a year linked to deprivation, and that people living in the poorest areas are up to a third more likely to wait more than 104 days to begin treatment despite an urgent referral. Those in the most deprived group are also less likely to take part in national screening programmes, and half as likely to receive cutting-edge treatment than people in the least deprived group. While cancer care for many has broadly improved over recent decades — last year more cancers were caught at earlier, more treatable stages than ever before — there are huge disparities in care, as the new research shows. Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said cancer treatment and outcomes should be the same for everybody, regardless of their postcode or their income. 'No one should be at a greater risk of dying from this devastating disease simply because of where they live. These figures are shocking and unacceptable — but crucially, they're avoidable,' he said. Dr Neil Smith, GP lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance, has seen first-hand how difficult it can be for patients to access services. 'High-quality care should be available to everyone when they need it. But sometimes, the hardest step can be getting to the doctor in the first place,' Dr Smith said. 'You're dead': cancer fear driven by lack of awareness Norman Morse started fishing in the North Sea when he was 15, often spending extended periods out at sea to make his living. The 70-year-old, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer after a colonoscopy in 2019, told The Independent that taking time off from a dangerous and labour-intensive job to see a doctor is a luxury people like him don't have. 'You're self-employed, so any time you take off, well, that's costing you money,' Morse said. 'There's pressure on fishermen to just get on with the job.' Morse said that, thanks in part to the 'men are men' mentality of not talking about health issues, he had little understanding when he received his diagnosis of what it meant and what his options were. 'What you actually hear is 'You're dead,'' he said. Morse said his actual outcome was 'unbelievable' — his diagnosis and surgery were three years ago — and he now knows a lot more about cancer and its ramifications. 'But there's a whole load of the lads who are active fishermen who are fully unaware,' he added. That's where C Aware comes in. It's a trial programme being run through the maritime welfare charity Fishermen's Mission to dispel cancer myths and stigmas among the fishing community while working with healthcare providers to bring cancer services to the quayside. Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said taking services to communities, rather than waiting for people to walk through the door, is vital to improving survival rates. 'We need to keep thinking energetically about how we overcome those barriers, how we overcome the difficulties that people face in their everyday lives,' he said. 'You can actually make a difference' A key example of the problem, and its solution, can be seen in lung cancer. Nearly half (47 per cent) of the additional 28,400 cancer deaths a year linked to deprivation are caused by lung cancer, according to the Cancer Research UK report. NHS England has been working to tackle that issue through a lung screening programme that targets older people with a history of smoking who live in areas with high levels of deprivation and a high rate of death from the disease. That programme has helped to diagnose nearly 5,500 cases of lung cancer, and most were caught at an early stage. Prof Johnson said that because of that programme, people in the most deprived groups are now more likely to have their lung cancer diagnosed at an early stage. 'That's really important, because it tells us that with a well-designed and properly resourced programme, you can actually make a difference,' he added. 'The challenge for us in the next cancer plan is to work out how we do more of that, how we build on that experience, and how to take things to people, rather than waiting for people to come to us.' Health secretary Wes Streeting, who has recovered from kidney cancer and is overseeing the development of a new National Cancer Plan this year, said he knows 'just how crucial timely diagnosis and treatment can be'. 'Our new targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment will mean around an extra 100,000 patients are seen on time next year, and we have also started using the latest digital AI technologies to help catch the disease earlier,' he added.
Sky News
21-02-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Cancer death rates 'almost 60% higher' in deprived areas
Cancer death rates are almost 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK. The leading cancer charity found that people from poorer areas are being diagnosed too late. They are also more likely to smoke, be obese, and are less likely to take part in cancer screening programmes, the report suggests. The research shows that around 28,400 cancer deaths each year are linked with deprivation - and almost half (47%) are due to lung cancer. Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said: "These figures are shocking and unacceptable - but crucially, they're avoidable. "Beating cancer must mean beating it for everybody", he said. "No one should be at a greater risk of dying from this devastating disease simply because of where they live." Dr Walker added: "People from more deprived areas are being diagnosed too late." Improving NHS access he said - through "funding and innovation" - is "vital" to level out the playing field. The proportion of people who smoke cigarettes - the single biggest risk factor of lung cancer - in deprived areas is 22%, compared with just 6% in better-off areas, according to the analysis. Meanwhile, the proportion of obese adults in poorer areas is 36% - compared to 19% in wealthier areas. There is also less uptake for screenings in poorer locations, according to Cancer Research UK - evidenced in part by bowel programmes. These screenings encourage patients to collect stool samples at home and to post them for testing. It found 57% of patients in deprived areas conducted the tests - compared to 76% in richer areas. The report also states people in poorer areas are more likely to be diagnosed later, and have to wait longer for treatment. The key, according to the charity's inequalities lead Karis Betts, is prevention. "To tackle cancer inequalities, our health services need to work together with communities themselves - to prevent the causes of cancer and spot the disease earlier. "We also need new and better ways to diagnose cancer at an early stage, like targeted lung screening, which is proven to help save lives in at-risk communities."
