Northerner
Admin (Retired)
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- Type 1
THE true cost of caring for ageing smokers can be laid bare today as new figures reveal that Hampshire taxpayers are stumping up £16m a year to treat them.
The shocking scale of looking after those over 50 with smoking-related illnesses comes as cash-strapped council bosses in the region struggle to save jobs and public services in the face of savage budget cuts of more than £100m.
The research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found Southampton City Council forks out £2.3 million each year to support ill smokers in their own homes and Hampshire County Council £14.4 million.
Now council bosses have pledged to make it a priority to encourage more smokers to kick the habit, while campaigners are urging for more services that prevent people from picking up their first cigarette.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11448034.Ageing_smokers_cost_Hampshire_taxpayers___16m_a_year/
The shocking scale of looking after those over 50 with smoking-related illnesses comes as cash-strapped council bosses in the region struggle to save jobs and public services in the face of savage budget cuts of more than £100m.
The research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found Southampton City Council forks out £2.3 million each year to support ill smokers in their own homes and Hampshire County Council £14.4 million.
Now council bosses have pledged to make it a priority to encourage more smokers to kick the habit, while campaigners are urging for more services that prevent people from picking up their first cigarette.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11448034.Ageing_smokers_cost_Hampshire_taxpayers___16m_a_year/