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<p>Smoking rates in England are now their lowest since records began. The Government’s
aim is to increase the number of smokers who make effective quit attempts. The number
of smokers in England attempting to quit has declined over the last decade but the
proportion of these quitting successfully has increased. As a result, the percentage
of all smokers quitting successfully each year has increased over the last five years.</p><p>
</p><p>The best way to quit smoking is with a combination of behavioural support and
pharmacotherapy. Specialist stop smoking services remain highly effective and cost
effective and smokers who use them are up to four times as likely to quit successfully
as if they try to quit unaided. Smokers who use English stop smoking services are
up to four times as likely to quit successfully.<sup>1</sup></p><p> </p><p>Advice
from a healthcare professional (HCP) is the most commonly cited external trigger for
a quit attempt and therefore HCPs have a vital role to play. A new national Commissioning
for Quality and Innovation indicator incentivises National Health Service trusts to
identify smokers, provide advice and refer all those who are willing into specialist
quitting support. Free online training, commissioned by Public Health England (PHE),
is available for HCPs on delivering very brief advice on smoking. PHE continues to
promote awareness of stop smoking services and encourage smokers to take up their
expert support via its marketing activity including campaigns such as Stoptober.</p><p>
</p><p><em>Note</em>:</p><p>[1] <a href="http://www.ncsct.co.uk/usr/pub/Briefing%208.pdf"
target="_blank">West, R. (2012) Stop smoking services: increased chances of quitting.
NCSCT Briefing #8. London; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training</a></p>
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