NHS helps 200,000 smokers kick the smoking habit

Over 200,000 smokers managed to kick the smoking habit last year in the best results ever achieved by the service - 65 per cent up on the previous year.

Figures released today show that of the 359,000 smokers in England who set a quit date between April 2003 and March 2004, over half had successfully given up four weeks later.

Smoking causes 120,000 deaths in the UK each year and treating smoking related diseases costs the NHS about £1.7 billion a year.

The NHS provides advice, information and help from GPs, nurses and other trained advisers such as pharmacists, in one-to-one sessions or group support. Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy, such as patches and gum are also available on prescription.

Investment in services to help smokers has increased from £23m in 2002/3 to £41m in 2003/4.

Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said the figures show how effective national campaigns can be when backed up by good local services.

"Giving up smoking is the single best thing anyone can do for their health," she said.

"These services really work - smokers are much more likely to kick the habit by using NHS services when attempting to quit than by going it alone."

People who want to quit smoking can visit www.givingupsmoking.co.uk