HC Deb 29 June 1984 vol 62 cc558-9W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is available on the National Health Service to smokers who wish to give up.

Mr. John Patten

Health professionals, both in hospitals and in the community services, are able to give help and advice to individual patients and also to groups of patients in for example anti-smoking clinics and cessation support groups. They will give such advice both to those suffering from complaints which may be smoking-related, as well as to smokers consulting for non-related matters. The Government have encouraged health authorities to expand health education services, which are available to improve the techniques of the health professionals giving advice as well as providing general health education material.