FINNIE URGES MORE SMOKERS IN RENFREWSHIRE TO USE NHS SERVICES TO HELP THEM QUIT

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 26th May 2009

FINNIE URGES MORE SMOKERS IN RENFREWSHIRE TO USE NHS SERVICES TO HELP THEM QUIT

West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie has urged more people in Renfrewshire to use the smoking cessation services offered by NHS Scotland to help them kick the habit.

Official figures released today show that whilst the number of people in Scotland making quit attempts has increased by 6,102 in the past year, only 4.8 per cent of these attempts were made with the assistance of an NHS smoking cessation service. In Renfrewshire there where 1179 quit attempts made in the past year, only 3.5 per cent took up the Renfrewshire community health partnerships services.

Commenting Mr Finnie said:

"It is encouraging that more and more people are making an attempt to stop smoking in Renfrewshire, although it is disappointing that more people are not using the smoking cessation services offered in Renfrewshire.

"Figures show that success rates for those trying to quit is much higher when people use the NHS smoking cessation service to help them quit, rather than just relying on pharmacy services.

"Ministers must do more to make people aware of the range of services offered by NHS Scotland to help you quit smoking; this would encourage more people to quit smoking and thus reduce the number of smoke related deaths."

Ends

Notes to Editors Figures can be found at:

http://www.scotpho.org.uk/smokingcessationstats2008/