Council to spend £2m to help people quit smoking

Nearly £2m will be spent over five years to help people in Stoke-on-Trent quit smoking, the city council has confirmed.

Smoking rates in the area have fallen from just over 20% in 2016 to 13% in 2023, but this was still higher than the England average, which is under 12% of the population.

The proportion of expectant mums in Stoke-on-Trent who are smoking at the time of delivery had also nearly halved over this period, from 20% to about 10%, but this figure was also higher than the national rate.

Council leaders said it was vital that services were in place to help further drive down smoking rates.

Deputy council leader Amjid Wazir said: "Smoking is connected to a lot of diseases and puts pressure on our NHS services, so we need something in the city to help people quit smoking and improve their lives."

The council's smoking cessation support was originally limited to pregnant women and their family members, as well as people with considerable mental health needs.

The criteria has now been broadened to include people in "routine and manual" employment, social housing occupants and people receiving treatment for substance misuse.

Other initiatives include free-of-charge access to quit smoking seminars, increased pharmacy support and working with other authorities through a newly formed Stoke-on-Trent Tobacco Alliance.

Stephen Gunther, director of public health at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "It gives us a better chance to create a smoke-free generation and support those who want to quit.

"We are committed to creating a healthier standard of living for all our residents, and this funding will ensure we can offer support where it's needed most."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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