NHS helps 5,000 smokers a week to give up

Over a quarter of a million people have quit smoking through the NHS in past year. According to the EU, the UK is now the leading country in Europe when it comes to help offered to smokers to quit.

As World No Tobacco Day  launched in England for the first time today, statistics were published showing that more people than ever before are successfully giving up using NHS Stop Smoking Services - a 63% increase in 2004 compared to the previous year. The government has committed to expand these services so people can easily access them at locations such as supermarkets and pubs as well as the traditional healthcare settings.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: 'Giving up smoking is the single best thing anyone can do for their health. In the UK smoking causes over 100,000 deaths each year and treating smoking related diseases costs the NHS about £1.7 billion a year. By helping people give up smoking we can prevent serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease and will help to save thousands of lives each year.

'We know that Government action alone is not going to make people give up, it is the individual themselves who needs to make that decision to protect their health and the health of their loved ones. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists enjoy a high degree of public trust and their regular contact with those with smoking related conditions puts them in a prime position to provide the support they need to give up for good.'

There has been a consistent increase over recent years in the number of people who have given up through the NHS Stop Smoking Services. People are up to four times more likely to succeed in giving up if they use the one-to-one or group counselling sessions alongside free nicotine replacement therapy on prescription. Ask your GP for more information.