Health chief says there should be no smokers in England within 12 years
Public Health England's chief executive says all smokers must be helped to stop so England can be smoke free by the year 2020
NOBODY in England should be smoking within 12 years, a health chief has said.
The boss of Public Health England wants a “smoke-free society” by the year 2030.
Chief executive Duncan Selbie last night called for all smokers to be given help to quit.
He told the NHS England Expo in Manchester: “Smoking should no longer be seen as a lifestyle choice. It is an addiction that warrants medical treatment.
“Everyone who smokes must be offered the support they need to quit.”
He said the move would save thousands of lives and free up almost £900million a year — cash the NHS spends treating illnesses caused by tobacco.
But critics blasted it as bullying. Simon Clark, of smokers’ lobby group Forest, said: “It’s laughable to think England will be smoke-free within 12 years.
“Some people will always want to smoke.
“It’s their choice and if you’re an adult you have every right to do so.
“Some smokers would like to quit but many smoke because they enjoy it and no amount of state-sponsored bullying will force them to stop.”
But Mr Selbie said the smoking crackdown must be part of a “ruthless” new NHS plan to boost health — including preventing heart disease and obesity.
About 17 per cent of Brits smoke. That is expected to fall to 8½ per cent by 2030.
But PHE wants to see it well below five per cent, if not zero.
Mr Selbie said: “With the right long-term plan in place, we can remove smoking from England. This is the single biggest thing we can do to improve the nation’s health.”
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