00:00A Leeds City Council report has warned that those who smoke face a reduced life expectancy of up to 20
00:07years compared to non-smokers.
00:09The authority is aiming to spend a quarter of a million pounds helping homeless smokers and those with mental health
00:15problems,
00:16with a healthcare provider being sought to run the service paid for with government public health funding.
00:21Support already in place in Leeds saw a 47% increase in people quitting in the first nine months of
00:282025-2026 compared to the previous year,
00:32but smoking rates among people suffering high stress levels and housing problems are massively higher than the general population.
00:39In 2025, more than 35% of people registered with a Leeds GP and diagnosed with severe mental illness were
00:47smokers.
00:48National figures showed up to 82% of homeless people and 43.7% of those starting drug or alcohol
00:55treatment smoked.
00:57Overall adult smoking prevalence in Leeds was 11.8% between 2020 and 2024, according to the Office for National
01:05Statistics.
01:06The report identified a need to provide a more specialist and tailored approach to people experiencing these circumstances.
01:12A contract to provide the service would begin on the 1st of October and run for two and a half
01:18years,
01:19with the option of it being extended for a further two years.
01:22The report said that every £1 spent on stopped smoking services saved £10 in future healthcare costs.
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