SMOKING CESSATION

Information and Advice

Sister Jane Lewis

The facts

• Treating illness and disease caused by smoking is estimated to cost the NHS £l .7 billion every year in terms of GP visits, prescriptions, treatments and operations

• 120,000 people die each year (13 every hour) from smoking-related diseases.

• Smoking contributes to 87% of lung cancer deaths, 21 % of cardiac deaths, 18% of deaths from stroke, and 82% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

          

   Top Tips

    l . Prepare yourself. It is important to be aware of the moments when a  craving may be  stronger - after meals or first thing in the morning perhaps.

 

    2. Plan distractions or activities that take you away from your normal routine.

 

    3. Try to remove all paraphernalia from the house, and throw away   any left over cigarettes.

                   

                     4. Ask people not to smoke around you.

 

    5.Tell people that you are giving up and ask for their support during this time.

 

   6. Plan a reward for yourself, put the money you save aside for a treat.

 

  7. Don't have a single puff. Refusing one cigarette at a time is all you have to do.

 

    Support services available

   There are effective interventions to help smokers quit their habit. SinceOctober 2000 Brent and Harrow PCTs have been managing stop-smoking  services directly.

 

1  Patients can arrange an appointment with their practice nurse or GP for advice and referral to pharmacists trained in smoking cessation.

 

2. Specialist smoking cessation groups are currently running in locations throughout Harrow.

    Contact: 8896 6108

 

3. Quitline offers a specialist telephone counselling service 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. seven days a week.

   Contact: 0800 00 2000.

 

4. NHS smoking helpline. Contact: 0800 169 9 169.

 

Useful websites:

www.quit.org.co.uk   and

www.givingupsmoking.co.uk

 

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