Number of smokers using NHS services to quit halves, report finds

The number of smokers who have quit smoking through the NHS Stop Smoking Service is projected to halve this year in England. In the image, a teenager receives information on smoking cessation products
The number of smokers who have quit smoking through the NHS Stop Smoking Service is projected to halve this year in England. In the image, a teenager receives information on smoking cessation products.

BSIP SA / Alamy

The number of smokers who quit smoking through the NHS Stop Smoking Service will halve in England in 2014–2015, according to a UCL School of Pharmacy report[1]
, launched on 4 March 2015.

The decline follows reorganisation of the NHS in 2013 and insufficient investment in advertising for the service.

In 2011–2012, there were 400,000 successful quit attempts using the service but this number is likely to drop to just over 200,000 in 2014–2015, the report estimates.

Overall, there has been a decrease in the number of people using the service to help them quit smoking, which peaked at 800,000 and is now set to sit at just over 400,000.

The report was commissioned by the Proprietary Association of Great Britain.

References

[1] Taylor D, Craig T, Gill J et al. UCL School of Pharmacy. Will smoking meets its match?March 2015.

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, 14 March 2015, Vol 294, No 7853;294(7853):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20068090

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