IT is hoped that the support services to help people stop smoking in York could be saved from cuts.

There had been criticism of plans to withdraw council support to help people quit at the same time as NHS bosses in York approved plans to delay non-emergency operations for smokers for six months unless they stopped the habit.

However, Labour councillors say they have mounted a campaign which could reinstate stop smoking services in order to prevent growing health inequalities between residents from different parts of the city.

A Labour motion had required the council’s public health team to explore options for reducing the impact of the proposed cuts and now a health scrutiny committee meeting has seen councillors from all parties agree to call on Cllr Carol Runciman, the council’s executive member for health and adult social care, to reverse previously agreed cuts to smoking cessation.

Cllr Stuart Barnes, of the health scrutiny committee, said: “I hope the administration decides to do the right thing and lessen the impact of rationing on existing health inequalities. Councillors of all parties recognised that there would be a widening of health inequalities if we insist on removing support for people to quit smoking.

"This is happening at the same time as the NHS in York, under ever more difficult financial pressures after years of austerity, is restricting access to surgery for smokers."

Given the higher rates of smoking among people living in more deprived areas, it has been argued the operations restrictions will have a disproportionately damaging effect on the poorest communities in York.