The £153.1m social care cost of smoking in Yorkshire and Humber

The campaigning charity – which has published research putting the annual social care cost of smoking nationally at £14bn – says the problem is set to get worse because the local authority public health grant which pays for stop smoking services is being cut by central government.

And a growing number of NHS commissioners are now refusing to pay for GP prescriptions for stop smoking medicines.

Research published by Action on Smoking and Health shows that local authorities in England face a bill of £760m a year, up from £600m in 2012, to help people with smoking-related illness stay in their own homes.

Individuals also face a bill of about £630m to cover the cost of their own care.

The new figures are included in an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health Report following an Inquiry convened by Bob Blackman MP, Chair of the APPG and former leader of Harrow Council.

The Inquiry report highlights the need for national leadership to ensure smoking rates continue to fall and urges the Government to publish the new tobacco control plan for England – now over a year overdue – without further delay.

Mr Blackman said: “Evidence presented to the APPG on Smoking and Health shows that smoking is contributing to the current social care crisis.

“The situation will worsen if funding to local stop smoking services continues to be cut.

“Smoking is the leading cause of health inequalities in the UK so this puts at serious risk progress towards the Prime Minister’s ambition to reduce the burning injustice caused by inequality.

“The new Tobacco Control Plan for England, published without further delay, will be crucial to ensuring that Government, the NHS and local Councils work together effectively to continue to tackle the harm caused by smoking.”

The Inquiry heard evidence that funding cuts to local authority stop smoking services and tobacco control work are being made worse by a lack of commitment from some parts of the NHS to helping smokers quit.

The Local Government Asociation has predicted that local authorities face a funding gap for social care provision of £2.6 billion by the end of the decade.

Margaret Willcox, President Elect of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care , said: “Rising demand and the increased cost of care has left providers struggling to meet the needs of those who depend on social care. Though the Government has taken short term steps to try and relieve the serious strain being placed on individuals, councils and the NHS, without urgent action, the situation will only worsen. Preventing people from needing care in the first place is vital and reducing smoking can make an important contribution both to reducing the costs of care to councils and improving the quality of life for many who may otherwise need years of care.”

Scott Crosby, Regional Tobacco Control Policy Manager, ‎Smokefree Yorkshire and the Humber said: “Yorkshire and the Humber faces a crisis as funding for social care has failed to keep pace with demand. This new research shows that smoking is making the situation worse and if smokers are not given help to quit even more strain will be placed on stretched services.