Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, has said the Scottish Government are running out of puff as he revealed that the health service’s target for helping people quit smoking has been missed.
The Scottish Government’s target was for NHS smoking cessation services to achieve 7,026 successful quits in the most deprived areas in 2022/23. However, new figures revealed that there were just 4,877 quits last year, and only two of 14 health boards have met or exceeded their target for helping people to quit smoking.
Figures from Public Health Scotland reveal:
- In the financial year 2022/23, NHS Scotland achieved 69 per cent (4,877 quits out of 7,026) towards the required annual Local Delivery Plan (LDP) Standard.
- Only Western Isles (140 per cent) and Dumfries & Galloway (144.7 per cent) have met their individual targets.
- The worst-performing health boards were Shetland (36.8 per cent), Lothian (42.2 per cent) and Grampian (52.1 per cent).
Alex said, “This is yet another area where the SNP/Green government is completely failing to meet its own targets.
“Smoking claims the lives of thousands across Scotland every year, predominantly in the most deprived areas of the country. Every person who is helped to quit reduces the burden on our NHS.
“Liberal Democrats were instrumental in delivering the ban on smoking in public areas and in cars with children, but further progress is being choked off.
“It’s clear that this is a government that is running out of puff. Ministers are tired and out of ideas, and it is time for a change.
“The country needs a Scottish Government which will work with health boards to make vital progress in tackling smoking.”