Smoking increases the cost of social care by millions, say Action on Smoking and Health. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Social care for over-50s in Hackney is costing an extra £4.7million a year – because of smoking.
The figures were released today by Action on Smoking and Health, which said smoking is contributing to the UK’s “current social care crisis”.
Hackney Council spent £2.5m on social care for over-50s in 2015/16. Cllr Jonathan McShane, the town hall’s health and social care leader, said: “We have continued to invest in stop smoking and tobacco control services and are always looking at improving the way services are delivered to give people the best support to quit.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here