More than 7,400 people in East London have quit smoking using NHS services over the past 12 months, according to latest figures.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease is now a major health problem in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring Hackney, Newham and the City, where smoking rates are among the highest in the country, a report this week by London Health Programmes reveals.
But the disease has been targeted by NHS East London, with �1million recently invested in Tower Hamlets primary care and community ‘outreach’ services to help ‘rehabilitate’ sufferers, to reduce emergency hospital admissions and length of time patients are kept in. The programme has helped thousands to quit the habit.
Stop smoking services are available in East London by calling freephone 0800-022 4332, or going online: http://smokefree.nhs.uk/
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