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Cuts will hit local stop smoking services

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Cuts will hit local stop smoking services

Cuts in local government spending to be announced by the Chancellor in today's (Wednesday) Autumn Statement could further damage access to vital services to help people stop smoking, PAGB has warned.

Access to these services, which are proven to be the most effective means of stopping smoking, has already declined by 48 per cent in the last three years.

John Smith, PAGB chief executive, comments: “The use of stop smoking services is already declining at an alarming rate. Cuts to local government public health budgets are impacting on the number and quality of services offered, as well as the advertising and promotion of services, so people don’t always know that help is available."

With appropriate investment and ambitious targets the Government could instead accelerate the reduction in smoking rates, saving more smokers’ lives and reducing the burden on NHS services and budgets, he added.

PAGB has published a set of principles for reversing the decline in stop smoking services agreed by organisations including Pharmacy Voice, Cancer Research UK and the British Lung Foundation.

"We are calling on the Government to recognise the valuable contribution of stop smoking services and take these principles into account in developing a new Tobacco Control Plan for England to help improve the health of those smokers in need of support," said Mr Smith.

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