One of the North East's leading respiratory doctors has urged people across the region stop smoking and "flush the poisons out of your body" at the start of 2023.
Dr Ruth Sharrock, an NHS consultant who leads on treating tobacco dependency across the North East and North Cumbria, is backing the campaign - "don't wait" - which has just launched to encourage people to quit the habit as soon as possible in 2023. Dr Sharrock warned that smoking is one of the key drivers behind cancer and other diseases - like heart disease - which disproportionately affect our region.
42% of households with a smoker in our region are in poverty, while analysis from the ASH charity has found the average smoker spends more than £2,400 on their habit. Even with sky-high energy bills, that could cover gas and electric for a year for many.
