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Statistics on smoking cessation services in Health Authorities: England, April to September 2001

  • Published date:
    14 February 2002

Statistical Press Release

This statistical press release presents provisional results from the monitoring of the smoking cessation services. These services were launched in the Health Action Zones in 1999/00, were set up in all Health Authorities in England in 2000/01. Monitoring has continued in all Health Authorities in 2001/02.

The key results show that, in England, during the period April to September 2001:

  • Around 104,800 people set a quit date through the smoking cessation services.
  • At the 4 week follow-up around 53,500 had successfully quit (based on self-report), 51% of those setting a quit date.
  • Of those setting a quit date, the majority (81%) were aged 18-59; 1% were aged under 18 and 19% were aged 60 and over.
  • The majority of people received Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or bupropion (Zyban). Around 53% of people received NRT only, around 26% received bupropion only, and around 2% received both NRT and bupropion.
  • The expenditure on smoking cessation services, which does not include the cost of NRT or bupropion on prescription, was £11.4 million.

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 to September 2001 are available from: the Department of Health Press Office, tel: 020 7210 5221.
  2. The white paper, Smoking Kills, was published in December 1998 outlining the Government's policies on smoking. This contained three key targets: young people's smoking; adult smoking; and pregnant women. The establishment of smoking cessation services in the NHS is an important element of the Government's strategy for tackling smoking in recognition that many smokers want to stop, but find it hard to do so. This policy has been more recently restated in the NHS Plan and the NHS Cancer Plan.
  3. Smoking cessation services were launched in the Health Action Zones in 1999/00, with services rolled out across the NHS in 2000/01. In the three years up to and including 2001/02, £53m has been made available for these services with a further substantial amount for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and bupropion (Zyban) on NHS prescription. A further £20m has been made available for the smoking cessation services in 2002/03.
  4. Final figures for 2000/01 were published as a statistical bulletin on 5 December 2001. A statistical press release presenting provisional results for April 2001 to June 2001 was published on 25 October 2001. A statistical bulletin giving results for 2001/02 is planned for publication later this year.
  5. 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.
  6. The telephone number for the NHS smoking helpline is 0800 169 0 169. The telephone number for the NHS pregnancy smoking helpline is 0800 169 9 169.
  • 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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