Less than half of Shropshire smokers quit under Council

Less than half of smokers using the Council's service to quit are failing to beat the habit.

Only 47% of people gave up smoking after signing up to the NHS Stop Smoking Service, a below average figure for England.

2,408 people in Shropshire signed up to the NHS Stop Smoking Service between April 2017 and March 2018 but only 1,138 said they had given up at follow up meetings four weeks later.

The statistics are based on self-report results from people who admitted to not smoking for two weeks since their quit date.

However, only 39% proved they had kicked the habit by having a test of carbon monoxide levels in their bloodstream.

The Stop Smoking Service has been provided by local authorities rather than the NHS, since 2013.

The service offers support, with one-to-one counselling or group sessions and nicotine craving prevention medicine.

The total cost of the service in Shropshire was £295,000 - £259 for each person that quit.

Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy at Action on Smoking and Health, said: "We want to see investment going back into funding these services through local authorities.

"We need the NHS to step up in its referral of people to stop smoking services and we’d like to see greater investment in mass media campaigns to make smokers aware of these services."

Martin Dockrell, tobacco control lead at Public Health England said: "If you’re not a smoker, don’t start and don’t vape. If you’re a smoker, quit now and consider using an e-cigarette as an aid.

"Using an e-cigarette along with support from your local Stop Smoking Service gives you the best chance of quitting successfully.”