Professor Chris Whitty (@CMO

Professor Chris Whitty

206 posts

Professor Chris Whitty

@CMO_England

England's Chief Medical Officer. Annual reports and talks on health gov.uk/government/col…

London

gov.uk/government/peo…

Joined September 2019

Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(7/7) The most deprived areas have worse health outcomes. Smoking is a major cause of this. Most smoking-associated cancers (red arrows below) are highest in areas of deprivation. This Act will reduce the health difference between wealthy and deprived areas.
3.3K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(6/7) Vapes are safer than smoking and can help smokers quit, but if you don’t smoke don’t vape, and marketing of vapes to children is completely unacceptable. The Act will restrict marketing of vapes at children using packaging, colours, flavours and shopfront displays.
3.3K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(5/7) Under the Act a generation will grow up without the substantial harm and disability caused by smoking. Second-hand smoke also causes significant harm. Smoking around schools, playgrounds and hospitals will be banned to protect children and medically vulnerable adults.
816
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(4/7) As this week’s YouGov polling shows the majority (64%) of the population want smoking to be banned either entirely, or phased out. Only 22% currently oppose. There is strong support for stopping smoking from every age group, area of the country and social group.
847
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(3/7) Smoking in younger age groups has reduced significantly over the last decade (change in prevalence below). The Act will accelerate this. Some bits of industry are clearly marketing vapes to children. This is utterly unacceptable and risks creating lifelong dependence.
1.7K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
Replying to @CMO_England
(2/7) Smoking increases the risk of bad pregnancy outcomes, stroke, heart disease, lung diseases, dementia, limb amputations and many cancers. This Act, which has wide public support, will create a smokefree generation.
2.6K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Apr 30
(1/7) The Tobacco and Vapes Act has now received Royal Assent and becomes law. Smoking has killed and disabled millions of people. Most smokers wish they had never started but are trapped by addiction to nicotine- addiction takes their choice away.
32K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Feb 13
Second-hand tobacco smoke is harmful, especially to children, pregnant women and medically vulnerable people. Risks include asthma, poor birth outcomes, cancer and stroke. A consultation on proposals to extend smoke-free places is now open:
gov.uk
Smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places in England
We are seeking views on proposals to extend smoke-free laws to certain outdoor public places and introduce heated tobacco-free and vape-free restrictions.
42K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Jan 26
Air pollution causes health harms including asthma, cancer and stroke. Particulate matter (PM) from burning solid fuels is a major component of this. A consultation on proposals to reduce particulate emissions from domestic combustion is now open: consult.defra.gov.uk/domestic-burni…
43K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Dec 11, 2025
Replying to @CMO_England
(2/2) As set out by the MTR, a balance is needed between new international graduate entrants to medicine and those who are already working and training in the NHS. If Parliament passes the emergency legislation, this will significantly improve training competition ratios.
16K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Dec 11, 2025
(1/2) Medicine is an international profession and the NHS benefits hugely from exceptional internationally trained graduates. However, the Medical Training Review found competition ratios for training have increased and are now too high in many specialities.
106K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Dec 4, 2025
Replying to @CMO_England
(7/7) The number and range of imported infections in the UK has increased in recent decades. We need to maintain specialist skills in imported, complex and rare infections, as well as maintaining generalist skills in infection in the wider healthcare workforce.
4.8K
Professor Chris Whitty
@CMO_England
Dec 4, 2025
Replying to @CMO_England
(6/7) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a significant threat, and whilst the UK is better placed than some countries the risk continues to grow. Antibiotic stewardship, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents, are priorities to reduce this risk.
5K