§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for each year of the programme the(a) total number of people who took part in smoking 398W cessation programmes and (b) number of four week quitters; and what assessment he has made of the number and proportion of four week quitters who subsequently recommenced smoking.[145078]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonWe do not have the information in the form requested.
The table shows the number of people setting a quit date through the national health service stop smoking services, and the number of those who remain quit at four week follow up
People setting a quit date and outcome at four weeks (based on self report) England 1999–2000 to Q1 2003–04 Number setting a quit date Number successful (self report) 1999–2000 14,598 5,760 2000–01 132,544 64,554 2001–02 227,335 119,834 2002–03 234,858 124,082 Q1 2003–04 April-June 64,691 33,926 Source:
Department of Health Smoking Cessation Monitoring Returns
The monitoring of the NHS stop smoking services establishes success four weeks after the client's quit date. This method was chosen as a viable, practical way to ascertain initial success
Smoking is an addictive behaviour and it is difficult for smokers to stop. From the evidence of clinical trials, we expect that around 65 per cent., of clients successful at four weeks will relapse to smoking. The Department of Health has commissioned a research project to investigate further the success of the NHS Stop Smoking Services in helping smokers to stop in the longer-term. This is due to report in the new year
The huge health benefit from smokers stopping means that services, such as the NHS stop smoking services, are highly cost effective.