Hundreds give up smoking with NHS help

7:58am Friday 19th October 2007

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MORE than 400 smokers in the area have stopped smoking this year with the help of the NHS, a new study has revealed.

The study, carried out by the Department of Health found that 553 smokers set a quit date with their local NHS Stop Smoking service, and of these 354 successfully kicked the habit with a further 64 giving up after four weeks.

More than 50 per cent of smokers across the east gave up during April and June this and the national NHS Smoking Helpline took 52,563 calls, while 3,080 would-be quitters signed up to an online Together Programme to beat their addiction.

As more puffers take advantage of the different smoking support services available to them, the NHS is launching a new DVD to help nicotine addicts beat the habit once and for all.

The DVD features case studies of real-life quitters talking about how and why the different kinds of support worked for them.

Beelin Baxter, regional tobacco policy manager, said: "It's great to see that so many smokers are now accessing the full range of services offered by the NHS to help them quit. By showing how the services actually work in the NHS Smokefree DVD, we hope to convince even more smokers of the benefits of seeking help to stop smoking rather than trying to go it alone. Research shows that smokers are up to four times more likely to quit successfully if they use support than by relying on willpower alone."

The DVD is being launched as part of the Send Off advertisement campaign which shows smokers strapping their last packet of cigarettes to a rocket, or throwing them through a garden shredder.

The DVD also shows a range of practical solutions offered by the NHS, with a behind-the-scenes look at how NHS Stop Smoking Services work. A doctor also talks about the different medical treatments available to deal with cravings, helping smokers to make an educated decision about which one will suit them best.

To stop smoking call 0800 169 0 169 or visit the website www.gosmokefree.co.uk

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