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Statistics on smoking cessation services in Health Authorities: England April 2000 to March 2001

  • Published date:
    26 July 2001

Statistical press release

This statistical press release presents provisional results from the monitoring of the new smoking cessation services. These services were launched in the Health Action Zones in 1999/2000 and were set up in all Health Authorities in England in 2000/2001.

The results show that, in England, during the period April 2000 to March 2001:

  • Around 126,800 people set a quit date through the smoking cessation services.
  • At the 4 week follow-up around 61,500 had successfully quit (based on self-report), 48% of those setting a quit date.
  • Around 45,200 of people setting a quit date received free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)/NRT vouchers, 36% of all those setting a quit date.
  • The expenditure on smoking cessation services, which does not include the cost of bupropion (Zyban) on prescription, was £21.4 million.
  • At 31 March 2001, there were around 540 staff in post in the smoking cessation services (expressed as whole time equivalents).

Some tables giving more details of these results are attached below.

Produced by the Government Statistical Service.

Notes to editor

  1. Press Copies of the statistical press release, Statistics on smoking cessation services in the Health Authorities in England, April 2000 to March 2001 are available from: the Department of Health Press Office, tel: 020 7210 5221. It will also be available as soon as practical after 9.30am on 26 July 2001 on the Department of Health website.
  2. The white paper, Smoking kills was published in December 1999 outlining the Government's policies on smoking. This contained three key targets: young people's smoking; adult smoking; and pregnant women. The NHS National Plan, published in July 2000, sets out a major expansion in smoking cessation with a comprehensive smoking cessation service to be in place by 2001.
  3. In 1999/2000, smoking cessation services were launched in the Health Action Zones with services rolled out across the NHS in 2000/2001. In the three years up to and including 2001/2002, £53m has been made available for these services with a further substantial amount for NRT and bupropion (Zyban) on NHS prescription.
  4. Final figures for 1999/2000 were published as a statistical bulletin on 22 February 2001. This showed that 14,600 people set a quit date through the smoking cessation services in HAZs in 1999/00 and 5,800 (39%) had successfully quit at the 4 week follow-up (based on self-report). This statistical bulletin is available on the Department of Health website. Statistical press releases presenting provisional results for April to June 2000, April to September 2000 and April to December 2000 were published on 14 December 2000, 13 February 2001 and 26 April 2001 respectively. These statistical press releases are available on  the Department of Health website.
  5. The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at Kent University carried out DH sponsored research into the development of smoking cessation services in the first year of implementation of  Smoking kills. Leading the way: smoking cessation services in Health Action Zones, a final report from the researchers, now based at Glasgow University, for 1999/2000 was published in December 2000 on www.haznet.org.uk
  6. Twenty-six Health Action Zones (HAZs) have been established in England by the government in areas of deprivation and poor health to tackle health inequalities and modernise services through local innovation. Further information is available on www.haznet.org.uk
  7. A statistical bulletin presenting information from a variety of sources on smoking titled Statistics on smoking: England, 1978 onwards was published on 20 July 2000. Copies of this bulletin are available from: Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SEI 6XH, Tel: 0541 555 455 and Fax: 01623 724 524. Press copies are available from the Department of Health Press Office, tel: 020 7210 5221. It is also available on the Department of Health website.
  • Contact:
    Press officer
  • Address:
    Media Centre, Department of Health
    Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
    London
    SW1A 2NL
  • Phone:
    Media Centre
    020 7210 5221

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