Smoking costing NHS £5bn
Tuesday 9th June 2009, 11:35AM BST.
Smoking costs to Shropshire’s health service could be soaring at a higher rate than experts previously believed.
A new national study claims that costs to the NHS are more than £5 billion a year – up to five times the previously accepted figure.
Illness and disability linked to smoking puts a “huge burden” on the health service, researchers said.
Shropshire is understood to be reflecting the national trend. Previous figures based on “bed days” taken up by patients suffering smoking-related illness, revealed the cost to Shropshire County Primary Care Trust was more than £10.3m a year.
And for what is now NHS Telford and Wrekin the figure was more than £4.5m.
Linda Offord, programme manager for tobacco control for both trusts, said: “Smoking puts a large strain on the Shropshire health economy.
“The figures represent the total bed days cost but this is only one cost. There are also others, such as GP outpatient consultations and smoking related disability.”
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Quick check on the internet notes that excise and vat from tobacco net a cool 10 billion! So all the non smokers are 5 Billion up! Thanks Smokers!!!!
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