Taxpayers fork out £4m for smokers
SMOKING-related illnesses cost £4-million to North Lincolnshire taxpayers.
And about 2,115 people from the area are treated in hospital every year because of them.
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North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is now calling on the Government to sign up to the Beyond Smoking Kills report which revealed the figures.
It is being launched by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
Dr Andrew Furber, joint executive director of public Health of North Lincolnshire PCT, said: "We have joined the campaign for a proper national plan to reduce the harm from tobacco and we are pleased to endorse this important report."
The annual cost of smoking to the NHS in England has increased from £1.7-billion in 1998 to £2.7-billion.
Beyond Smoking Kills makes a number of recommendations including plain packaging for all tobacco products and banning the display of tobacco products in shops.
Deborah Arnott, director of ASH, added: "As this report demonstrates, the Government needs to introduce a proper plan for tackling the harm caused by tobacco."
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6 Comments
by david wrennall, bolton
Tuesday, March 03 2009, 8:07PM
“one law for them one law for us smoke and drink 24 hours in houses of parliament plus 12 billion reasons(£) why they won,t ban smoking”
by Charles Brindley, Howsham
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 9:51AM
“And just how much does it cost for the abuse in alcohol, that is putting those in their mid 20's into Renal wards.
I have not seen too many smokers being sick all over the place, leaving piles of vommit in the town centres, in taxi's and over others close by.
I have given up going out at night, as I hate to deal with abusive and sick drunks who fail to respect the alcohol, others and themselves.
How many young women get pregnant through smoking, how many get pregnant through being drunk?
If the NHS want to stop the REST from smoking, then find out what the root cause is "Why they Smoke"?
Perhaps it's ALL the stress on work in todays society, the same can be said for the DRUNKS!
Many with Mental Health problems smoke, WHY is that?
Why is there in many cases NO other activities for young people to attend, to give them something to do and stop them being bored, smoking and drinking on street corners?
Why are GP's in one of the highest At Risk groups for suicide, perhaps they should SMOKE more?”
by Geoff, Ashby
Saturday, October 11 2008, 3:41PM
“Report out yesterday that 21% of all tobacco and cigarettes smoked is smuggled. Smoking is responsible for 4000 premature deaths. Yet still prepared to give the government £12bn in taxes?”
by Ben, Scunthorpe
Thursday, October 09 2008, 10:41AM
“We should do what we want to do, weither your fat or are a smoker we all pay taxes we should all get the same care no matter the cost.”
by julie, ashby
Thursday, October 09 2008, 9:57AM
“Smoking causes lots of different illnesses so why not ban them all together. Stop all this talk and just get rid of them out of the shops. I am a smoker but for them to do this then we would have to stop. They won't do this thou because of all the money they make on the tax they get.”
by Smokers Taxed £12billion per year, Scunthorpe
Thursday, October 09 2008, 9:35AM
“Tobacco taxation, the amount levied in various ways by the government on every packet of cigarettes, cigars or smoking tobacco, comes to £12 billion per year, six times more than any NHS bills run up by nicotine addicts.”