A one-stop service aimed at helping people give up smoking has been stopped from

dispensing the controversial anti-nicotine drug Zyban.

Specialist nurses working for Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust had previously been able to prescribe the drug to smokers without having to refer them to a GP.

But the PCT decided to only allow the drug to be prescribed by a GP or hospital doctor after concerns about its safety.

The one-stop scheme was developed by two specialist smoking cessation advisers, who are registered nurses, in 2000 as part of a new government drive to help people kick the habit.

The service provided counselling and drug therapies to support the process, including all types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Zyban.

A PCT spokesman said: "It should be emphasised the service experienced no local problems with Zyban.

"Patients will continue to be offered the full support of the service, together with counselling and NRT.

"Zyban requires additional medical assessment that can only be undertaken by a GP who can refer to the patient's full medical history."

All other smoking cessation services in East Sussex already refer patients to their GP if a course of Zyban is recommended.

Doctors say the nurses operated a successful service and the change puts more pressure on already busy GPs.

Zyban was licensed in Britain in 2000 and its use was endorsed across the NHS in March 2002.

Medicine watchdogs have been told of 7,866 suspected adverse reactions, 63 of which have been fatal.