BURT PRAISES ANTI SMOKING CAMPAIGN

2.21.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th Aug 2008

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt has praised Solihull NHS Care Trust for their commitment to help people stop smoking, saying it is the single most important thing anyone can do to improve their health.

In her response to the Care Trust's recently published annual report, Mrs Burt said:

"Solihull borough has the widest health inequalities in the West Midlands, with a difference of nearly ten years in average life expectancy between some parts of the borough.

"Smoking is probably the biggest contributor to this inequality and if trends persist, the gap will be even greater by 2010.

"Cancer causes 18% of total inequality in life expectancy and of this; up to 75% is due to deaths by lung cancer which is almost exclusively caused by smoking.

"Last year's ban on smoking in public places was a big step forward to protect people from inhaling second hand smoke and has encouraged many smokers to kick the habit.

"Every penny that Solihull Care Trust spend on promoting smoking cessation is money well spent and will be repaid many times over in health benefits and long term savings to the NHS."