Stop smoking services: BMJ analysis shows how councils are stubbing them out

Abstract

Cash strapped councils have slashed smoking cessation budgets in England again this year, The BMJ has found. As some areas dispense with them entirely, Gareth Iacobucci examines whether these services are withering on the vine

Half of councils no longer provide universal specialist stop smoking services

“…Last August a BMJ investigation found that half of local authorities in England had cut their stop smoking budgets in 2018-19,2 a continuing trend driven by government reductions to public health budgets.…”

Why the rules should not be relaxed for e-cigarettes to encourage people to stop smoking

“…We are surprised that unproven and potentially dangerous e-cigarettes are being promoted at a time when there have been substantial cuts to successful public health services, including smoking cessation services 89…”

NHS long term plan is just one part of the picture

“…This comes as shrinking local authority budgets mean smoking cessation services downsize or disappear,3 showing the limitations of organisational approaches. One step forward, two steps back.…”