Free NRT for New Year Quitters
09/01/2008
Gloucestershire smokers with a New Year’s resolution to quit will be given a boost by the NHS. They will be able to get free NRT if they set a date to give up between January and 31 March 2008 and commit to a support programme, it was announced today.
The move by Gloucestershire PCT, is part of a comprehensive treatment package with advice and guidance available throughout from specialist support to stop advisors.
Smokers can find it very difficult to give up and many have tried a number of times before. Research shows that getting the right support and using the right treatment doubles a smokers’ chance of successfully kicking the habit.
Those wishing to take up the opportunity to give up in the New Year should contact the Gloucestershire NHS Support to Stop Smoking Service on 08454 220040 or their local GP Surgery.
Individuals will receive advice to help them adjust to with living without smoking and will also be given a voucher to take to their local pharmacy. The pharmacist will provide them with the right NRT treatment (e.g. patches or gum) to help them give up smoking.
As part of the free NRT offer, smokers will have to commit to a support programme, which involves them meeting with an advisor on a one to one basis or in groups throughout their quit attempt.
Services will be available across the county in a variety of settings and at different times to fit around smokers own daily work commitments.
Director of Public Health at Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Dr Shona Arora said:
“Smoking is responsible for nearly a 1,000 deaths a year in Gloucestershire. The health and emotional effects of smoking can often be devastating for smokers and their families and also puts the NHS under significant and avoidable strain.”
“We want to do all we can to support those people who are seeking to improve their health by giving up smoking. The free NRT initiative is just one part of a comprehensive support programme we are offering to help set people up to succeed in 2008.”
Chair of the PCT’s Professional Executive Committee and local GP, Dr Tony Walsh said:
“Giving up smoking not only stands to benefit the individual in terms of a healthy lifestyle change, it also stands to benefit the NHS in the longer term as more emphasis is placed on prevention rather than cure.”
The free NRT Offer, which is available for people setting a quit date before 31 March 2008, covers up to 12 weeks of treatment. During this period, the NHS locally hopes to support around 2,000 people to give up smoking.
The NHS across the country spends around £1.7 billion a year treating
smoking related illnesses (this includes hospital admissions, GP consultations
and prescriptions) and Gloucestershire PCT believes the health and financial
benefits of its support programme could make a real difference to all concerned.
Further Information
NRT would currently cost an average smoker attempting to quit around £10 a week.
Smoking Facts:
- Smoking causes almost 90% of deaths from lung cancer, around
80% of deaths
from bronchitis and around 17% deaths from heart disease
- About one third of all cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking
- Each year about 34 million days are lost in England and Wales through
sickness
absence caused by smoking.
Visit the Gloucestershire Stop Smoking Advice Service for further information
