Cheshire East Council will continue a scheme which sees family members of pregnant women paid in vouchers to stop smoking.
The council’s adults and health committee approved a financial incentive scheme in 2022 to help pregnant women quit smoking.
Up to £400 worth of vouchers were given to the women for successfully reaching specific quit milestones.
Because of the impact of passive smoking on unborn children, household members could receive up to £200 in vouchers for kicking the habit.
Committee members recently agreed to continue the scheme – but it will only apply to household members, as the government has started a national incentive scheme for pregnant women.
Public health consultant Dr Matthew Atkinson said: “Smoking and addressing smoking remains vitally important.
“It’s a leading cause of premature, preventable deaths, and it causes harm to both babies and growing children and also others in their households.
“It does also have huge costs to our health and social care system, so it’s a ‘win, win’ if we manage to address it.”
Some councillors questioned whether it was worthwhile continuing when only eight family members had participated in the scheme.
Dr Atkinson replied that it would be better if more people were referred and that the authority hoped – with the national scheme coming in – there would be more awareness of it.
Twelve committee members voted to continue the voucher scheme for household members, and one abstained.
