Conservative Party: Government offers more support to help people quit smoking

The Government has launched an improved NHS ‘Quit Kit’ offering extra help to those looking to stop smoking.

For the first time, the ‘Quit Kit’ offers a week’s free trial of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches which can double a smokers’ chances of quitting successfully.

As people up and down the country prepare to make their New Year’s resolutions, the launch of the improved kit follows recent research showing that two-thirds of smokers want to quit smoking and that New Year is the most popular time to do so.

Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, said:

“Smoking costs the NHS billions every year and can cost a 20-a-day smoker around £2,000 a year, so giving smokers help to quit not only improves their health, but saves them and the NHS money.”

The Quit Kit will be available from a range of participating pharmacies across the country which are working in partnership with the Department of Health. More information is available at www.smokefree.nhs.uk or by calling the Smokefree Helpline on 0800 022 4332.