'Record numbers quitting smoking'

23/08/2010

Record numbers of people have been using the NHS Stop Smoking Services, with the rate of those being able to quit cigarettes for good at an all-time high.

For the year ending March 2010, the number of people who set a date to give up smoking increased by 13% on the previous year to 757,537.

After four weeks 373,954 people had still not smoked, up 11% on the previous year, leaving them with the prospect of having lower life insurance premiums.

In one example, local primary care trusts have been working with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in central London to help patients as well as staff to quit cigarettes.

The programme teaches medical staff about the link between certain diseases and smoking, including the long-term effect of cigarette use on patients. Around half (53%) of staff who have taken part have managed to quit smoking, while the success rate with patients is said to be similar.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in England. We are now reviewing how best to tackle this issue in the context of the new priority and focus on public health by the Government and this Department."

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