Scotland: 11m Pounds To Help Smokers Quit

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 12 Dec 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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Public health minister, Shona Robinson announced that health boards will continue to receive £11 million a year to help smokers quit.

Ms Robison said although much work had already been made in reducing the number of Scottish people who smoke, more was still needed to reduce smoking rates even further, particularly among young people.

Speaking at Scotland's first ever smoking cessation conference in Glasgow, Ms Robison said health boards would receive a share of £11 million a year for such services.

She said, "Great strides have already been made in reducing the numbers of smokers in Scotland in recent years, and creating an environment which supports people to give up by introducing the smoking ban.

"However, there is no room for complacency as more work remains to be done to reduce smoking prevalance, especially in young people.

"That is why I am delighted today to be able to announce that the Scottish Government will continue to make £11 million a year available to support smoking cessation services."

Ms Robison said the money would allow health boards to continue existing services and develop new ones.

She added: "I realise that it is a challenging task to take services out from traditional settings to more accessible places such as workplaces and social clubs, but I am confident that health boards and cessation workers can rise to this challenge."

http://www.ash.org.uk