Tower Hamlets tobacco control strategy – a strategic approach to reducing tobacco prevalence
Jill Goddard, Tobacco Programme Lead, NHS Tower Hamlets, London, UK and Colin Perrins, Head of Trading Standards and Environmental Health (Commercial),  London Borough of Tower Hamlets, UK

Abstract
Prevalence of tobacco use in Tower Hamlets is the highest in London with 37% of the population smoking and 20% regularly using oral tobacco with Paan. Tobacco use has a major impact upon preventable ill health, premature death and is a major cause of health inequalities.

Tower Hamlets as a health community has formed a Tobacco Control Alliance in order to develop a strategy in order to reduce prevalence by 2011. In order to do this five work streams are in the process of delivering the strategy.

This presentation/workshop will describe the process of developing the strategy, key lessons learnt and will present data on progress to date.