Telford smoking cessation clinic risks a £400,000 bill

Services to help people in Telford stop smoking have proved so successful that health bosses could eventually find themselves facing a bill of £400,000.

So many people are signing up for help in quitting that NHS Telford and Wrekin's stop smoking scheme has already gone over budget by more than £48,000 and it could rise. But the trust is still struggling to get pregnant women to give up the habit.

In his report to this week's meeting of the trust board, managing director Dr Leigh Griffin said the 'continuing difficulties' posed by smoking in pregnancy was one of the challenges facing the organisation.

He said about a quarter of pregnant women in the area continued to smoke .

"It's strange," he said. "Overall, we're very successful in helping people to stop. People have come forward and we have been able to help, but within that success we do have a real challenge in helping pregnant women to stop."