Merseyside stop smoking service set to be taken over by another group
Radio City News can reveal a stop smoking service in Liverpool which helps on average 10 people everyday on Merseyside quit the habit is being handed over to another contractor
Radio City News can reveal a stop smoking service in Liverpool which helps on average 10 people everyday on Merseyside quit the habit is being handed over to another group.
A new company is set to take over the service currently known as Fag Ends which is currently run by the Roy Castle Lung Foundation. In 2014 it supported 7000 people across the region, with around half of those stopping smoking for good.
The service has been going through a tender process - with bids for the contract taking place. Now it's been confirmed that Roy Castle Fag Ends were not successful in their bid to keep their services under their control.
A Public Health spokesman said: “We had a number of extremely high quality bids for the smoking cessation contract and unfortunately Roy Castle Fag Ends were not successful. The staff will be transferred across to the organisation that has been awarded the contract and all of the work will be delivered locally. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Roy Castle Fag Ends for their work and hope to be able to work with them again in the future.”
The news has been met with some concern from users. Teresa from Norris Green uses Fag Ends twice every week. She said: "I'm worried if the service is taken away, I'll start smoking again. I'm going to be grandmother soon, and if this is taken away there's not going to be anything out there, anyone you can phone for any support"
"You need someone who you can talk you, you need people to support you, if it wasn't here I'd tear my hair out"
A spokesperson from Liverpool city Council said: A Council spokesperson said: “Anybody who is currently receiving support from Roy Castle Fag Ends will continue to do so under the new contractor”