UCL to develop training for smoking cessation workforce

A consortium headed by UCL has been chosen by the Department of Health to lead a nationally accredited training system for NHS Stop Smoking practitioners. UCL will work with national charity Quit, NHS Leeds and a number of key contributors to the smoking cessation community to establish the NHS National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT). Its primary aim is to optimise the quality of behavioural support for smoking cessation in England. From Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre within UCL Epidemiology & Public Health, Andy McEwen has been appointed director of the centre and Professor Robert West as co-director with special responsibility for research. Professor Susan Michie (UCL Psychology and the Centre for Outcome Research and Effectiveness) has been appointed as co-director with special responsibility for assessment, training and evaluation. The grant will be administered through UCL Psychology with the Centre for Outcome Research and Effectiveness (CORE) as a major subcontractor. McEwen commented: 'I am delighted that the consortium headed by UCL, which includes other academic institutions, charitable organisations and our partners from NHS Leeds, have been awarded this unique opportunity to develop and run the NCSCT.