NHS help sees 4 in 10 smokers kick the habit

FOUR in 10 Oldhamers who vowed to quit smoking have successfully kicked the habit.

According to the NHS Information Centre, between January and March, 1,304 set a stop date and of those, 518 succeeded.

The 40 per cent success rate was constant with the achievements over previous months of smokers wanting to quit once and for all.

In total, 1,653 gave up smoking between April, 2008, and March, this year — 40 per cent of the 4,154 who tried.

Smokers who said they had stopped were given a carbon monoxide test four weeks after their chosen stop date to prove they had not smoked.

Liz Woodworth, stop smoking service manager with Oldham Community Health Services (part of NHS Oldham), said: “We are always looking for new ways to help people stop smoking.

“We use trained advisers, who can give evidence-based support and non-judgmental advice and will help smokers to decide which treatment is most appropriate for them.

“We provide access to the latest and best treatments, ensuring the physical addiction is managed and allowing smokers to focus on conquering the habit.

“The support we offer includes help to set a quit date as well as advice on stop smoking medicines, which are available free on prescription.”

The figures are only for former smokers who sought help from the NHS, meaning numbers could be much higher.

Across England, the number of people who successfully quit smoking was 337,054 during 2008/09. Total expenditure on NHS Stop Smoking Services was £74m, an increase of 21 per cent on the £61m spent the previous year. The cost per quitter was £219 compared with £173 in 2007/08.

The NHS Information Centre’s chief executive, Tim Straughan, said: “Fewer people successfully quit last year compared with 2007/08.

“However, 2007/08 saw the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places which would be expected to affect the number of quitters that year.

“It is encouraging that more people quit smoking last year than in 2006/7, the year prior to the ban.”

l Contact the stop smoking service on 0800-328 8534.