Jo Webber, Deputy Director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents over 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

“More than 1,600 people die from smoking in England each week, with official figures showing that the greatest number of smoking related deaths occur in the most deprived areas. So it is reassuring that the Healthcare Commission's review has revealed that the NHS is showing particularly strong performance in the most deprived areas. “NHS Confederation members know that well-funded smoking cessation services can achieve real results in helping smokers to successfully quit. It is vitally important that the current funding of NHS Stop Smoking Services - provided by primary care trusts - is sustained post-2008, when the last phase of the smoking ban is due to be in place, so that care can be delivered effectively to everyone that needs support to give up smoking.” The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

<< Prev	CIGoutlet.NET News Home	Next >>