Oldham smokers figure is on the rise

The number of smokers in Oldham is on the rise, research reveals

Oldham has been revealed as one of the few places in the country where the number of smokers has risen, new figures show.

The latest GP Patient Survey, an independent survey run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England, reveals that nationally, the number of smokers has remained at around the same level - around 16-per-cent.

But in Oldham, the proportion of smokers rose from 17pc to 19pc between 2015/16 and 2016/17.

Across Greater Manchester, there were 28,910 smoking-related hospital admissions in 2016/17.

In Oldham, there were 2,234 and Manchester 5,370.

It cost the NHS more than £50m to treat smokers in hospitals across the region in 2016/17.

In Oldham, the cost per head was £33 and Manchester £42.

Oldham and Manchester councils provide free stop smoking services to help people kick the habit.

Cllr Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Oldham Council, said: “We’re committed to reducing the number of smokers in Oldham and treat it as a real priority.

“A person’s overall health can improve significantly when they stop smoking which eases pressure on health services.

"Last year we supported 637 quit attempts in Oldham. It often takes people several quit attempts to become a longer term quitter.

“Our quit rates are in line with the North West’s but we want to encourage more people to access the stop smoking service as this is the most effective way for smokers to quit.

“Combining behavioural support with stop smoking treatments, such as nicotine replacement therapy, means that you’re four times more likely to quit.

“Our tobacco control plan aims to provide additional support for some groups, with an initial focus on pregnant women, working collaboratively with maternity services and development of a primary care-based stop smoking cessation offer.

“Reducing smoking in our own workplace is also high on our agenda.

"A new stop smoking policy is currently being written which aims to tackle this and we’re fully supporting the Stoptober initiative again this year.”