Written question asked by Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 23 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 December 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the NHS of treating patients with medical conditions deemed to have been linked to the use of tobacco products was in the last 12 months for which records are available. - Ic figure.

Answer: Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS of treating patients with medical conditions deemed to have been linked to the use of tobacco products was in the last 12 months for which records are available. [199613] Miss Johnson: Treating illness and disease caused by smoking has been estimated to cost the national health service up to £1.7 billion every year in terms of general practitioner visits, prescriptions, treatment and operations. Source: Buck D, Godfrey C, Parrott S, Raw M, University of York Centre for Health Economics: Cost Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Interventions, London: Health Education Authority, 1997.

Secondary information