MP criticises PCT's smoking scheme

  

A SCHEME to help people quit smoking before they have operations has been criticised by an Essex MP.

Mid Essex Primary Care Trust will launch an initiative in the New Year to ask people lined up for routine planned surgery to undertake an eight-week course to help them kick the smoking habit.

Smoking is a major cause of post-operative complications, resulting in delayed recovery and greater treatment costs.

But Simon Burns, West Chelmsford MP, said he felt the trust's plans went against Government policy of treating smokers and non-smokers equally.

Mr Burns has also questioned whether the move was motivated by cost-cutting or health reasons.

He said the PCT should be prioritising the health of the patients above the need to eliminate its deficit as the end of the financial year approaches.

“In principle - and on health grounds - it is sensible for the NHS to try and get people to give up smoking,” he said.

However, if and when this policy commences, he said it will mean that those patients who agree to try and give up smoking prior to their treatment will actually delay that treatment by up to eight weeks as they spend time on a course trying to give up smoking.

“Inevitably, apart from the health benefits, this will also help the PCT to save money and reduce their deficit by the end of the financial year.”

Mr Burns said financial considerations “must not play a part” in the decision-making process and it must be a health-related decision.

“They must also ensure that patients are not pressured into agreeing to seeking to give up smoking and be given the full facts and implications of their decision; that their treatment will be delayed as they try to stop smoking,” he added.

Yesterday, a statement from the health trust confirmed that, from 2007, all patients who are smokers and who are being referred for routine, elective surgery will be asked to attend its Stop Smoking Service.

Chief executive Sheila Bremner said clinical evidence showed that patients who gave up smoking before their operation were less likely to develop post-operative complications.

She said: “It is very important that we help people to be as healthy as possible when they have surgery in order that they recover as quickly and smoothly as possible afterwards.

“Smoking can cause serious post-operative complications and so we would like people to give up before their operation.”

elliot.furniss@eadt.co.uk