Helping smokers quit is costing nearly £5m
Almost £5million has been spent in one year helping smokers across the region to kick the habit, new figures revealed today.
Thousands turned to the NHS for advice on quitting between April 2011 and March 2012. Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) spent up to £419 on each smoker in the period. Stop smoking services including one-to-one support sessions, advice on nicotine replacement therapy such as gum and patches and a scheme for pregnant women and their families.
In Dudley, where there were 2,931 successful quitters, the total spent was £1,134,000. Valerie Little, Dudley director of public health, said: "Stopping smoking is a major achievement for any individual and, with the support services we offer, people in the borough have a better chance of stopping smoking for good."
In Sandwell the bill was £986,000 and 2,353 people gave up while Walsall spent £830,000 and 2,284 residents successfully quit.
In Wolverhampton 1,718 people finished and the cost was £349,000. Figures show the bill for South Staffordshire was £1,192,000 for 4,488 quitters.
Worcestershire PCT paid £500,000 as 2,818 gave up.
Amounst spent per quitter ranged from £203 to £419 in Sandwell. The average West Midlands cost per person was £290 and the total cost £4,991,000.
During the financial year 2011/12, there were 400,955 people nationally who successfully gave up cigarettes.
