An article today published in the Gazette Live - Absolutely incredible waste of NHS money on pretty useless drugs:
"Some 25,621 Champix prescriptions were written for the treatment in Durham, Darlington and Tees in 2013/14 - one for every 45 people. That is the highest rate in the country.
Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear is second, with 40,094 prescriptions of Champix - or one for every 48 people. The national average is one for every 77 people.
NHS figures say the average net cost of a single prescription of Champix - not including discounts, fees or dispensing costs - was £34 in 2013/14"