Stop smoking money being wasted - Lamb

"The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on reports that the number of people who stopped smoking with NHS help fell by 4% last year despite the Government spending 21% more money on helping people quit, Norman Lamb said:

“The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives.

“It’s extraordinary that more money is being spent for worse outcomes.

“The incentive system for doctors has to be urgently changed. GPs shouldn’t be paid just for referring people to stop smoking services, they should be paid for helping them to successfully quit.”