More smokers than ever in the NHS South Central region which includes Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are making use of free NHS Stop Smoking Services to help them quit smoking for good, and more than ever are seeing the results they want.

In the year to March 2010, 15,799 local people set a quit date through NHS Stop Smoking Services – a 9 per cent increase on the previous year. And after four weeks, 8,748 people managed to successfully quit – 10 per cent more than in the last year. These are encouraging figures but more people still need to access the free NHS support that is available to help people quit for good.

John Newton, Regional Director of Public Health at South Central Strategic Health Authority said: “Giving up smoking is the single most useful thing a smoker can do to improve their health. Most people know that smoking is harmful, but may not realise how quickly benefits are felt after quitting. For example after 72 hours breathing will become easier, the appearance of your skin will improve after a month, and after a year the risk of a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker."

“It is vital that we continue to make smokers aware of the severe health risks of smoking and just how easy it is to get support. Will-power and determination are perhaps the most important requirement when giving up smoking. However, nicotine is a drug of addiction and many people find giving up a struggle. Help is available.”

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley said: “Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in England. NHS doctors, nurses and health professionals in local Stop Smoking Services are dedicated to tackling smoking - it’s because of their excellent work that more people than ever have successfully quit. Over fifty years, we have halved the proportion of adults who smoked. But some other countries have lower smoking prevalence than this, so we should go further and reduce the number who smoke.

“With smoking causing so many avoidable deaths and hospital admissions in England, it is important people take up the offers of support available. Anyone who is interested in stopping smoking should call 0800 1 690 169 to find their local Stop Smoking Service.”

Based on information supplied by South Central Strategic Health Authority.