Quit-smoking service expands across North

SMOKERS in the Far North now have more support available to help them quit the habit than ever before.
advertising

NHS Highland’s smoking cessation service used to offer specialist advice only at Caithness General Hospital and Thurso Community Health Centre, but it is now available at all health premises in the North Highland Community Health Partnership (CHP) area, which covers Caithness and Sutherland.

And a new smoking cessation service is currently being introduced in pharmacies across Scotland, which will include all 10 community pharmacies in the two counties.

This will build on the good work already being carried out by the North Highland CHP smoking cessation team, which won the health improvement award at the NHS Highland staff awards in September of this year.

Figures for people setting a date to quit smoking in north Highland between January and August this year show that the number is more than 20 times greater than for the same period of last year. In 2007, eight people set a quit date in this period and this year there were 169.

Smoking cessation co-ordinator for North Highland Katie Wilson said the dramatic increase was mainly due to the roll out of services across the whole of Caithness and Sutherland.

Clinics are now provided in 14 GP surgeries, a community health centre, the hospital outpatient clinics at Wick and Golspie, Dounreay and Highland Council’s occupational health departments, while an inpatient service and home visits are available on request.

The team, which has recently taken on an additional smoking cessation adviser, Linda Sones, for three days a week, will also be working with schools and community development centres.

Mrs Wilson said: “Since last August, we’ve seen nearly 400 people, who are at varying stages of coming back to us. It’s an ongoing process.

“The success rate is about 35 per cent, whereas for somebody stopping by themselves it’s about two per cent. This means there’s a substantially higher chance of success when they use the service. Smoking is an addiction and, because of the nature of addiction, some people do slip back, but an increasing number are returning to us. We’re developing a reputation within the community and we’re beginning to get self-referrals.

“Smokers can also be referred by health professionals, including their GP, dentist or district nurse.”

Clinical nurse manager for Sutherland Lorraine Coe said: “The team has put a phenomenal amount of work in over the last year and the service is now being offered across the CHP.

“The network is virtually complete and will form a solid foundation for better health outcomes for the population of Caithness and Sutherland.”

Anyone wanting help to quit smoking should contact the Smoking Cessation Helpline on 0845 757 3077.

Source : http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5826/Quit-smoking_service_expands_across_North.html

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.