News from Lynne Jones MP

I issued the following press release on 29.11.04

MP SAYS 'USE NHS TO QUIT SMOKING'

264 people in Selly Oak constituency died of lung cancer last year.   90% of such deaths are caused by smoking and smoking causes a third of all cancer deaths. 

Local MP Lynne Jones is encouraging all constituents who smoke to take advantage of NHS smoking cessation services. 

Lynne Jones said:

“Between April and June this year, in South Birmingham, 800 people came to learn about the service and 400 quit smoking.  This is a very good result and I hope that as the word gets around more and more people will take advantage of this excellent NHS service to help them stop smoking”.  

After calling a freephone number, prospective quitters make an appointment with a specialist adviser to help them consider a quit date, they can then join a group or meet 1:1 with an adviser.

The MP is publicising the cessation service in the wake of the Government’s recent White Paper on public health, and went on to say:

“I am pleased that the Government has taken action to ban smoking in many public settings.  This will sharply cut the toll of illness and premature deaths caused by second-hand smoke.  Eventually, I would like to see the ban extended further but the Government is making a good start in changing the practices and attitudes towards a habit, which harms other people who have no choice in the matter.”

 

E N D S

The NHS freephone number is 0800 0525 855

E N D S