PATIENTS who smoke are being “discriminated against”, according to research by a charity.

The British Lung Foundation said Clinical Commissioning Groups are cutting back on stop smoking treatments and said in York, services are only open to those who are in a priority group and GPs have been asked not to prescribe due to cost. A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said councils will be given £16 billion for health services, adding: “There are now fewer smokers in this country than ever before thanks to our bold and effective plans, including standardising packaging for cigarettes and covering up tobacco products in shops.”