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Introduction

What is PATH?

Partnership Action on Tobacco and Health (PATH) is an initiative, managed by ASH Scotland, that aims to reduce the number of people that smoke in Scotland. Now in its second phase of work from Spring 2005, PATH is continuing to support the implementation of Scottish and UK government policies on tobacco and smoking.

Funded by the Scottish Government, PATH has taken a lead in a number of key developments to roll out and enhance evidence of good practice for Smoking Cessation Services across areas of training, data collection, evaluation, prevention and cessation. To find out more about these developments please click on the links below.

Training and Development - A national training strategy and national training standards for smoking cessation work in Scotland have been developed along with an approval scheme for courses that are in line with the training standards. In partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University, accredited training modules in smoking cessation have now been created (at Brief Advice, Specialist Individual and Specialist Group levels). These modules are delivered across the country by ASH Scotland Regional Training Officers.
Data Collection and Monitoring - Making recommendations on data collection and evaluation of smoking cessation services. This includes the development of a smoking cessation minimum dataset and smoking cessation database, which is now managed by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS Scotland.
PATH Funded Projects/Support Fund - A national Support Fund of £0.9m funded 11 creative local pilot initiatives around Scotland, exploring different approaches to tobacco work amongst identified priority groups. There were three research-only and eight service-delivery projects, all of which ran between 2003 and 2007.

To read about what happened after the funding period ended for the PATH Support Fund projects, please see the PATH Newsletter April 2008 (pdf file - 8 pages, 743KB).

Key partners, experts and professionals in the health and tobacco control field help to inform PATH's work through Working Groups and extensive consultations. PATH also has a multi-agency PATH Advisory Group to provide support and guidance as our work evolves.

If you would like further information or wish to receive future updates on developments within PATH, please contact:

Linda Bates - Projects Officer - by email linda.bates@ashscotland.org.uk or by telephone 0131 220 9481.