In a statement, the NHS said:
“The scheme comes alongside action on obesity and
diabetes as part of a renewed focus on prevention that
will benefit patients and make the NHS fit for the future,
by curbing demands on the health service.”
Announcing the long-term plan which overall aims to
boost public health and the NHS purse, NHS England
chief executive Simon Stevens said:
“Alcohol and tobacco addiction remain two of the biggest
causes of ill health and early death, and the right support
can save lives.
“The NHS long term plan delivers a sea-change in care
for a range of major conditions like cancer, mental ill
health and heart disease, as well as stepping up to do
more on preventing ill health in the first place by giving
patients the support they need to take greater control of
their own health and stay fitter longer.”
Commenting on the long-term plan, the Royal College
of Physicians president Professor Andrew Goddard said:
“We welcome the Long Term Plan’s commitment to offer
help to quit for every smoker admitted to hospital, as
recommended in our 2018 report Hiding in Plain Sight.
Helping people give up smoking is a cost-effective
means of both improving health and reducing demand
on NHS services in the future. Every contact a health
professional has with a patient is an opportunity to help
the patient give up smoking – having a system in place
to treat tobacco dependency with allocated funding will
help make it happen.”
Meanwhile, Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action
on Smoking and Health (ASH UK) said: “From cancer
to cardio-vascular and respiratory disease, dementia
to diabetes, and maternity to mental health, stopping
smoking improves patients’ life expectancy and quality
of life and reduces pressure on our overburdened NHS.
So we’re delighted the NHS long-term plan includes
provision of support to stop smoking for pregnant women,
people with mental health conditions and all patients
admitted to hospital. We look forward to publication of
the detailed plans, and the timetable for implementation.”
Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Public Health England
said making an investment in the future of public health
is “the smartest thing the NHS can do.” He added:
“Tobacco kills 1500 people a week so helping people to
quit when admitted to hospital helps them, their families
and the taxpayer. And it is equally smart for hospitals
to have new expertise focused on supporting the most
alcohol dependent people. Both measures announced
today will save thousands of lives and help the NHS
remain sustainable into future years.”
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