I am requesting information regarding Devon County Council’s compliance with the NICE Guideline NG209 (Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting, and treating dependence), specifically the mandatory requirements updated in February 2025.
The February 2025 update stipulates that local stop smoking services “must ensure” that a comprehensive range of evidence-based interventions are accessible to adults who smoke.
This includes four primary pillars of cessation: behavioral support, medicinally licensed products (including Cytisinicline), nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, and specific cost-effective behavioral programs.
In light of these mandatory “must” requirements, please provide the following:
1. Service Accessibility Audit: Please provide any internal audit or compliance report conducted following the February 2025 update to ensure the Council is meeting its mandatory obligation to provide a full range of accessible cessation methods.
Devon County Council does not hold any recorded information in the form of a specific internal audit or compliance report undertaken following the February 2025 update to NICE Guideline NG209 for the purpose described in the request.
2. Evidence for Exclusion of ACE: NICE recommendation 1.12.10 specifically identifies Allen Carr’s Easyway (ACE) in-person group seminars as a cost-effective behavioural intervention. Given the Council’s mandate to “must ensure” accessible behavioural support, please provide the evidence-based justification for excluding the ACE method from your current service menu.
Devon County Council does not hold any recorded information evidencing a decision to exclude Allen Carr’s Easyway from smoking cessation support available to Devon residents.
3. Comparison of Behavioural Options: Please provide any recorded information held by the Council that compares the quit-success rates and cost-effectiveness of your currently commissioned behavioural support providers against the data for Allen Carr’s Easyway as cited in the NICE NG209 evidence reviews.
Devon County Council does not hold any recorded information comparing the quit-success rates or cost-effectiveness of its commissioned behavioural support providers with Allen Carr’s Easyway as described in the request.
4. Commissioning Gap Analysis: Please provide any documentation showing how the Council has addressed the “must” requirement for choice and accessibility if only one form of behavioural support (e.g., 1-on-1 coaching) is currently offered to the exclusion of group-based seminars like ACE.
Devon County Council does not hold any recorded information specifically described as a commissioning gap analysis in relation to Allen Carr’s Easyway seminars.
In the interests of providing advice and assistance, the Council can confirm that it commissions a specialist stop smoking service which is required to operate in accordance with NICE Guideline NG209.
The service specification requires the provider to offer a choice of behavioural support formats, including one-to-one support and closed group support delivered face-to-face, by telephone or by video call, alongside access to pharmacotherapy and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes where appropriate.
5. Future Procurement Timelines: If the current exclusion of ACE is due to existing contract cycles, please provide the date when the smoking cessation service contract is next due for tender and whether the 2025 NICE “must” requirements have been integrated into the new specification.
Devon County Council does not hold any recorded information indicating that Allen Carr’s Easyway is not commissioned due to contract cycle considerations.
In the interests of providing advice and assistance, the Council can confirm that the current specialist stop smoking service contract is due to end on 31 October 2028. Any future commissioning arrangements will be developed in accordance with the Council’s requirements and relevant guidance applicable at that time.