Fewer smokers using NHS to quit

The number of people using NHS services to quit smoking fell by 8% last year, new figures show.

In Fife, the number of quit attempts fell from 3,620 in 2015/16 to 3,190 in 2016/17. But they rose in Tayside 4,668 to 4,783 over the same time period.

The national decline comes amid a rise in the use of electronic cigarettes and a fall in the number of smokers in recent years.

Statistics show that in 2016/17, the number of quit attempts made with the help of NHS smoking cessation services was 59,767, down 8% from 64,838 in 2015/16.

The longer-term trend shows a large reduction in the number of supported quit attempts between 2011/12 and 2016/17, down 51%.

Despite this reduction, the overall number of people smoking continues to fall, statisticians said.

They said the reasons for the fall in quit attempts is likely to be the result of a combination of factors, including increasing use of e-cigarettes.

Gregor McNie, of Cancer Research UK, said smoking cessation services were failing to reach enough people.

“Smoking cessation services are vital as they’re much more successful at helping people quit than will power alone,” he said.

“With around 18% of adults in Scotland smoking, helping them to give up is essential to the health of our nation.”