Report highlights progress in supporting smokers in the NHS to quit but mental health services are being left behind

A new report from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) [1] reveals progress made in implementing support to smokers in hospital settings but highlights ongoing problems with the current programme, particularly in mental health settings.

The report comes following Labour’s manifesto commitment to: “Ensure all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care” [2]

The ASH report, Integrated Care Boards and tobacco control: making good progress, describes the significant progress made since the NHS Long Term Plan in 2019 [3] included new stop smoking treatment services at hospital bedsides, in maternity services and to mental health patients. However, insufficient funding, uncertainty about future funding, and patchy collaboration with local government are impeding further progress and require attention to secure the Labour Government’s commitments.

Findings

• Only 54% of survey respondents were confident that tobacco treatment services would be fully implemented in mental health services by March 2024, compared to 73% for acute services and 88% for maternity services.
• Although the overall spending on tobacco dependence treatment services increased across the three years from 2021/22 to 2023/24 (though not at the level originally projected), spending on mental health services fell between 2022/23 and 2023/24.
• Uncertainty about future funding is the most cited barrier to progress among those implementing services impacting on workforce recruitment and retention while strong partnerships and close collaboration with local government are key enablers.

The one-year spending review recently announced by the Chancellor must confirm that funding to support smokers in the NHS is embedded for the long term and that new funding committed to local government services to double the investment in local government quit support will be maintained.

Commitment should also be made to expand these cost-effective services and accelerate the support for smokers in line with Labour’s manifesto commitment to create opt out support as a standard part of hospital care – in particular funding must be made available for mental health services where smoking rates are highest and roll out of support has been slowest.

Hazel Cheeseman, Deputy Chief Executive of ASH, said:
“While we are pleased to see progress in helping smokers in the NHS, the disparities in access and the persistent funding challenges are concerning. Labour’s commitment to ‘opt-out’ interventions if implemented will be a significant step forward on their roadmap to smokefree country.”

Dr Ed Beveridge, Presidential Lead for Physical Health, Royal College of Physicians:
“Reducing the level of smoking among people who have mental health conditions is necessary for a just society. The high rates of smoking drive early illness and death, leave people less well off with fewer life chances. The Government must address the funding shortfall and ensure we can provide the support people need to stop smoking and gain more control over their lives.”

Cancer Research UK's Senior Prevention Policy Manager, Malcolm Clark, said:
“Smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer in the UK. But stop smoking services haven’t always received sufficient funding and people trying to quit haven’t been able to get the vital support they need.

“To reach a smokefree UK for all, the UK Government must ensure that everyone can access the help they need. Targeted interventions, such as cessation support in mental health services, will give more people a better chance of quitting smoking.

“We urge the UK Government to prioritise the health of the nation by ensuring that smoking cessation support receives sufficient, long-term funding.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor
Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information see: ash.org.uk. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Contact: press@ash.org.uk Hazel Cheeseman Deputy Chief Executive is available for media interviews

[1] ASH, Integrated Care Boards and tobacco control: making good progress, 2024 https://ash.org.uk/uploads/ICB-Report-2024.pdf

[2] Labour Manifesto 2024 https://labour.org.uk/change/build-an-nhs-fit-for-the-future/

[3] NHS Long Term Plan https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/