Those giving up smoking ‘just need desire’ the leader of Lincolnshire County Council has said while passing a £8.7m initiative.
While the authority has cut some services to in its Integrated Lifestyle Service, including the One You Lincolnshire, it has awarded a £2.9m, three year contact for a ‘smoking cessation service’.
The money is provided by government and must go on stop smoking initiatives.
County council leader Sean Matthews said: “I gave up smoking 38 years ago when I saw my beautiful daughter Samantha. You just need a desire to do it.
“It’s not really something the council should do but we’re being forced to by the government.”
He was responding to Coun Liam Kelly, the executive councillor for Growth speaking as part of the Executive that passed the measure: “I’m an ex-smoker. I tried to give up first off in 2004 using patch, nicotine gum and everything else and I failed.
“I should have used the patches to put them over my eyes so I couldn’t find my cigarettes.
“I gave up in 2008 as a challenge. I hadn’t smoked for 24 hours, so then I said I’ll try another 24, then 48 hours then a week.
“I gave up because I wanted to give up at that time, so I think there is an onus on individuals to be responsible.”
“Even though the government has ring fenced this, £8.7m is a lot of tax payer money. What are we going to do to ensure we get best value to the tax payer?”
The council’s executive director for adult care, Martin Samuels pointed out the service is only for people who want to give up smoking.
“They don’t drag people off the street and tell them they should stop smoking, it’s a starting point for people who say nicotine is an addictive drug and they can’t do it on their own,” he said. “It is designed to help those that want to quit but are unable to do so without support.”
Andy Fox a consultant in public health for the county council said the authority was one of the top performing in the country and already meeting government targets of five per cent of smokers a year giving up.
“Others are really scratching their heads saying they don’t know how to meet a target we’re already meeting.”
“Smoking is the single biggest contributor to that gap in life expectancy.
“We see some people in Lincolnshire have a 20-year longer life expectancy because they don’t smoke.
“It’s fantastic you’re able to quit on your own but there’s certain groups who find it harder. If we can provide targeted support we give value to the public pound.”
