Between April and September 2006 246,300 people set a quit date through NHS Stop Smoking Services, latest figures from The Information Centre for health and social care show. At the four week follow up 124,800 (51 per cent) had successfully stopped smoking (based on self report), including 4,100 pregnant women.

Those committing to a quit date, the chances of succeeding at the four week follow up increased with age, with only 36 per cent of under 18 year olds succeeding compared with 60 per cent of those aged 60 and over. Of those people who set a quit date, 83 per cent received Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

NHS Stop Smoking Services are a range of services which:

• offer intensive support, provided by specialist smoking cessation advisors, usually on a group therapy basis
• provide one to one support, widely accessible within the local community, provided by trained personnel including nurses and pharmacists

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Editors notes

1. The Information Centre is a special health authority, working to make information more relevant and accessible - to the public, regulators, health and social care professionals and policy makers, leading to improvements in knowledge and efficiency. We are also streamlining data collections to reduce the burden on frontline staff, releasing more time for direct care.
2. The 1998 White Paper 'Smoking Kills', announced the setting up of the smoking cessation services in the NHS. The services were first established in Health Action Zones in 1999/2000 and rolled out across England in 2000/01.
3. The establishment of Stop Smoking Services (formerly known as Smoking Cessation Services) in the NHS is an important element of the government's strategy for tackling smoking in recognition that many smokers want to stop, but find it hard to do so. The services are just one part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy which includes a ban on tobacco advertising, a wide-ranging media campaign, larger and starker health warnings on cigarette packets and action to tackle secondhand smoke, with the Health Act 2006 ensuring from summer 2007 that smoke free environments are the norm.
4. Nicotine Replacement Therapy became available on NHS prescription in April 2001; previously NRT was available through the Stop Smoking Services on a voucher scheme.
5. The NHS Smoking Helpline (0800 169 0 169) gives help and advice to smokers to quit, and can offer information on when and where to access their local NHS Stop Smoking Service.
6. For media enquiries please contact Cathy Beveridge on 01132547120 or Cathy.Beveridge@ic.nhs.uk