This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scots encouraged to stub out smoking
09/03/2005
Record funding is to be made available to help thousands
of Scots stub out smoking by 2008 with special clinics set
up in health centres, community facilities, bingo halls,
and pubs.
On national No Smoking Day, First Minister Jack
McConnell confirmed that the Scottish government will more
than double the money currently available to health boards
to set up smoking cessation clinics by 2008.
The additional money will bring the total spend on
smoking cessation to £11 million per year by the end of
2007/08.
At Livingston's St John's Hospital where he met a group
of pregnant women who have successfully stopped smoking,
the First Minister said:
"Our decision to ban smoking in enclosed public places
sent out the clearest possible signal about tackling our
appalling health record. Today, on No Smoking Day, we send
out another.
"Today we say to the thousands of Scots who want to stop
smoking that they can change their life for good - and that
we will do whatever we can to support you.
"Stubbing out smoking is the right decision for the
smoker, their friends and their families. I know, however,
that it can also be a hard one - with taking the first step
often the most difficult part. Having services out in the
community - in places where people live and work will make
that step easier.
"We need to be creative about how we help people to help
themselves. Today's announcement means that we can do just
that."
St John's Hospital is running a three-year 'Stop for
Life' project which aims to improve the delivery of smoking
cessation services to pregnant women and their families in
a wide range of health and community settings in West
Lothian.
In 2004 the Scottish government set a target of a 2 per
cent reduction in the number of smokers in Scotland by
2010.
Around 65,000 of the 1.1 million people who currently
smoke will have to quit by this time to achieve this. This
constitutes a yearly rate of 10,800 quitters.
This would result in around 32,400 quitting by the end
of 2008 - the end of this new funding period. This target
was set before the announcement of the proposed ban on
smoking in public places.
At present, Health Boards have £3 million available to
them for smoking cessation. This will rise to £7 million in
2005/06. The announcement today brings the figure to £9
million in 2006/07 and £11 million in 2007/08.
Guidance will soon be issued to Health Boards about the
additional funding. That guidance will include a clear
instruction to find new and innovative ways of engaging
with smokers in their community.
The Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco
Control is being asked to advise Ministers on how exactly
the new money announced today should be targeted and
invested by NHS Boards to support local delivery locally of
national tobacco control polices.
Specifically, they will be considering how this money
might support the implementation of smoke-free policies
following the introduction of legislative controls on
smoking in public places which are expected to come into
force in spring 2006.