Government urged to improve anti-smoking services
New research published in the British Medical Journal today concludes that the targets for reducing smoking in the poorest communities are insufficient as they ignore the health inequalities gap.
The Government has set a national target of reducing smoking prevalence from 26 per cent to 21 per cent by 2010.
But a failure simultaneously to address health inequalities may result in a widening of the health gap between the healthiest and worst off, according to author Dr Eugene Milne, deputy medical director at Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority.
The study focussed on NHS smoking cessation services in this area, which is dominated by manual workers, and suffers some of the worst health and deprivation in the UK.
It suggested that there had only been a drop in smoking rates of between 0.1 and 0.3 per cent in the previous year and suggests that if more radical measures are not taken smoking will not be reduced.
Dr Milne said that comprehensive restriction of smoking in all workplaces is required.
In last year’s Public Health White Paper, the Government proposed a smoking ban, but suggested an exemption be given to pubs which do not serve food. But, these premises are much more common in deprived areas and critics worried that the policy might exacerbate the health gap.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that there should be a NICE review of the effectiveness of the NHS smoking cessation programme.
Mr Lansley, said: “This is not the first time the effectiveness of the Government’s NHS smoking cessation service has been called into question. Under the Government’s programme, up to two thirds of people who ‘quit’ smoking take it up again within the year and young people in particular are failing to give up.
“Now we hear that the poorest communities are adversely affected by the Government’s targets. The ineffectiveness of current smoking cessation services is a serious concern for the nation’s public health and means poor value for taxpayer’s money.”
He said that NICE should review the effectiveness of the programme, in particular whether the NHS should offer a greater choice of therapies.
