More people quit smoking

Latest statistics on smoking cessation show a rise in the number of people using NHS services to quite the habit.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:

“Stopping smoking is the single most important thing anyone can do to improve their health. But we recognise that stopping smoking can be difficult which is why the NHS invests £11 million annually to provide a range of smoking cessation services.

“Stop today’s children”

“It’s good news that we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people using NHS services to quit the habit – in 2009, there were 26,485 successful quit attempts, an increase of 31 per cent on 2008.

“We’re continuing to do all we can to make cigarettes less attractive and less available and, in particular, stopping children from starting to smoke in the first place. The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act, which recently received Royal Assent, will end the display of cigarettes in shops and ban sales from vending machines – both measures designed to stop today’s children becoming tomorrow’s smokers.”

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