THE financial burden of smoking-related disease on the social care system has been laid bare by a new Parliamentary report.

Research published today by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows that local authorities in England face a bill of £760m a year, up from £600m in 2012, to help people with smoking-related illness stay in their own homes.

In West Yorkshire, an estimated £34.2m of taxpayers’ money was spent on home care for over-50s with smoking-related conditions in 2015/16.

Self-funded care cost a further £28.4m, and there are an estimated 10,000 older people in West Yorkshire with smoking-related conditions who are cared for by family or friends.

The new figures are included in an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health Report published today following an inquiry convened by its chairman Bob Blackman MP.

The inquiry report calls for national leadership to ensure smoking rates continue to fall and urges the Government to publish the new tobacco control plan for England - now more than a year overdue - without further delay.

Mr Blackman said: “Evidence presented to the APPG on Smoking and Health shows that smoking is contributing to the current social care crisis.

“The situation will worsen if funding to local stop-smoking services continues to be cut. Smoking is the leading cause of health inequalities in the UK so this puts at serious risk progress towards the Prime Minister’s ambition to reduce the burning injustice caused by inequality.”

Joanne Nykol, Bradford Council’s lead officer on tobacco, said the report served as a reminder of the importance of giving up smoking.

She said: “No-one wants to have to rely on care services to live an independent life, yet smoking can directly affect the care they need in later life.

“Stopping smoking is the single biggest way that people can improve their health and their quality of life; which is why Bradford Council offers a stop smoking service to its residents.

“There is clear evidence linking smoking to a range of conditions like dementia, emphysema, cancer, heart attack and stroke.

“Even if someone already has a serious illness, it’s never too late to quit and can make a significant difference to your quality of life.”

Deborah Arnott, chief Executive of ASH, said: “Smoking places an enormous pressure on our over stretched health and social care system, not to mention the many thousands of carers who spend their lives looking after loved ones.

“We know that most local authorities remain committed to reducing smoking but key services are under threat from public health funding cuts.”

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