• YOUR report on help for smokers to give up their habit (Quitters are quitting stop smoking course, August 10) highlighted an important local service but unfortunately gave a misleading impression of its success rate.

Out of the smokers who access our stop smoking service, 55 per cent are successful (2016-17 figures) – that is more than 800 people who quit successfully last year with our help.

The figure you quoted – 0.6 per cent – is in fact the percentage of all smokers (it is estimated there are 32,000 smokers) in Camden who quit successfully for a year or more with our stop smoking service. This figure is comparable to other areas in London.

We want to support even more residents to give up smoking and, to this end, we are launching a new stop smoking service, called Breathe – It’s about living.

The new service offers a range of stop smoking support and advice to residents. This includes free, weekly, one-to-one or group sessions, a range of nicotine replacement products to help residents stay smoke free and clinics across a range of local community settings, including pharmacies, supermarkets and libraries.

They can also get free online video chat support if that is more convenient. For more information go online at: www.oneyoucamden.org text QUIT to 66777 or call 020 3633 2609.

CLLR RICHARD OLSZEWSKI
Cabinet Member for Health
and Adult Social Care