Publish date: 29 July 2022
Councillors in Cheshire have agreed a plan to pay pregnant women to stop smoking.
The pilot project by Cheshire East Council is designed to reduce the harm to women and their babies of tobacco – which is the leading lifestyle cause of cancer.
Cheshire East Council health committee was told about 10% of the borough’s expectant mothers were smokers and it is hoped the scheme will reduce that.
Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health at Cheshire East Council, said: “There is strong evidence showing that offering financial rewards to stop smoking, combined with regular carbon monoxide testing to prove smoking status, can be very effective in reducing smoking rates and achieving successful quits.
“We’re going to follow a similar innovative approach by providing vouchers, as part of a wider package of support, to encourage people to quit smoking for good and ultimately make our residents’ lives healthier and happier.
“Providing vouchers for relatively small sums of money to encourage people to quit smoking is highly cost-effective, because the long-term health benefits of quitting smoking are so great.”
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