Two contracts to support healthy living are being re-procured by North Yorkshire County Council: a stop smoking service and a service to help those who want to stop misusing drugs or alcohol. This is due to the current contracts coming to an end in 2019.
“In North Yorkshire, smoking continues to be the primary cause of early death and preventable illness across the county and we have around 64,000 people still smoking,” said County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing.
“Between 2014 and 2016, it is estimated that smoking contributed to almost 3,000 deaths, so it is very important we continue to invest in our stop smoking service to help save lives. And quite apart from giving people the support they need to give it up, it is estimated that for every £1 invested in specialist stop smoking services, £2.37 will be saved on treating smoking-related diseases and lost working days.
“Supporting people who are misusing drugs and alcohol is also a priority for us. Currently, best estimates tell us that 2,000 people across North Yorkshire are misusing heroin and or crack cocaine and we know that well over 5,000 people are alcohol dependent and would benefit from support to help get back on the road to a healthier life.”
The contract for the new Smoke Free (smoking cessation) service is scheduled to be awarded in October 2018 with the new service being operational in January 2019.
The new contract for the specialist adult drug and alcohol service, North Yorkshire Horizons, is scheduled to be awarded in May 2019 with the new service being operational in October 2019.
Organisations interested in tendering for either contract can download the documents from Yortender at www.yortender.co.uk. Market testing events are also being held at the Evolution Centre, Northallerton:
Stop Smoking Service, 15 June, 1.30pm-3.30pm
To register for a place, contact Yvonne Parkes on 01609 797742 or email Yvonne.Parkes@northyorks.gov.uk
Specialist adult drug and alcohol service, 12 June, 11am-1pm
To register for a place, contact Phillippa Sellstrom on 01609 536836 or email Phillippa.Sellstrom@northyorks.gov.uk