Failing to invest more in anti-smoking measures will ensure health inequalities persist, says the RCN.
The DoH does not have the resources to address the uptake of smoking in deprived communities, the college says.
The call for renewed action comes 10 years on from the White Paper Smoking Kills, which paved the way for a ban on tobacco advertising and smoking in public places.
RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: ‘The NHS does not have the required support to address the growing concerns of the uptake of smoking in deprived communities and the barriers many face in giving up their addiction.
‘Nurses working in the primary care sector already play an influential role in helping people to give up smoking. There needs to be more resources in providing nurses with the skills and knowledge to deliver expert advice and appropriate treatment.’
tom.ireland@haymarket.com
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RCN demands help for smokers in deprived areas
The RCN is calling for more to be done to stop people smoking in deprived communities.
