PCTs should set localised stop smoking targets, says NICE

Wednesday 27th February 2008

Primary care trusts (PCTs) and commissioners should set minimum smoking cessation targets for their local populations, says the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

NICE says PCTs should aim to treat at least 5% of their population who smoke each year, and to aim for a success rate of at least 35% at four weeks.

The advice, issued today (27 February) outlines ways to encourage people to give up smoking, which also include targeting minority ethnic and poorer communities, and offering personalised information and support to pregnant women.

The new guidance is aimed at all professionals who have a direct or indirect role in helping people to quit smoking including PCTs, local authorities and community and voluntary sectors.

NICE says that smoking is estimated to cost the NHS £1.5bn a year and remains the main cause of preventable morbidity and premature death in England.

A wide range of diseases and conditions are caused by cigarette smoking, including cancers, respiratory diseases, coronary heart and other circulatory diseases.

NICE also says smoking is "the primary reason for the gap in healthy life expectancy between rich and poor".

Professor Peter Littlejohns, NICE Clinical and Public Health Director, said: "This is the first fully comprehensive smoking cessation guidance published by NICE, which provides all people responsible for smoking cessation advice on how to structure their services to help people quit smoking.

"We are asking all PCTs, strategic health authorities and commissioners to make it a priority to help people to quit smoking. Most smokers want to quit and in this guidance we aim to ensure that the right services are put in place to help them to stop."

Christine Owens, Director of Tobacco Control at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: "We see the best results when stop smoking services tailor their service to their local population.

"We are advising that all PCTs, SHAs and commissioners determine the characteristics of the local population of people who smoke or use other forms of tobacco and tailor their support around them."

NICE