Stoptober 2018 – a nationwide campaign that asks people to stop smoking for 28 days during October.
The service, commissioned by Essex County Council, is now utilising local vape shops to expand their reach to smokers. As well as support from the stores, smokers can also access the Essex Lifestyle Service app to receive behavioural support by text or email. The new initiatives are expected to boost its already impressive success in the county, where over 7,000 people have quit in the last two years with the service.
Smokers are encouraged to visit the Essex Lifestyle Service website www.essexlifestyleservice.org.uk for information on participating stores and further details about the app.
With more ways to quit than ever before, there has never been a better time to kick the habit. Essex Lifestyle Service works with GP practices and many pharmacies in the county to deliver smoking cessation services. A variety of stop smoking products can be issued, if they are needed. If you want to know more about the many ways you can stop smoking with free help, contact the Essex Lifestyle Service by calling 0300 303 9988 or email: provide.essexlifestyles@nhs.net
Ellen Van Gemmet, who leads the Essex Lifestyle Service said:
“We know that many smokers want to stop smoking with the use of an e-cigarette. Although they are not yet licensed as medications, Public Health England say they are at least 95% less harmful than smoking tobacco. Quitting smoking is better for you and your family and by working with e-cigarette stores and training their staff, we can ensure people chosing an e-cigarette, can access proven behaviour change support with a Stop Smoking Adviser.
“A Stop Smoking Advisor will be able to offer you a tailor-made support package. You will be given advice and support on managing stress, eating well (so that you don’t put on weight), as well as how to overcome other triggers that may increase your urge to light up.”
John Gear, Health Improvement Specialist from the Essex Lifestyle Service talks about a service user who successfully quit smoking with a vaping store last Stoptober:
“Our service user used to smoke 30 cigarettes a day but wanted to stop for his family and for health reasons. He had tried everything but nothing seemed to work. After seeing an article in a newspaper about e-cigarettes, he decided to call into his local store. The store explained they work with Provide’s Stop Smoking Service and so could give him behavioural support alongside the e-cigarette. He started off smoking and vaping but over a brief period, stopped the cigarettes completely. Since stopping smoking he reports his wheezing has gone and can run up the stairs without breathing difficulties. He also reports saving a lot of money.
Our service user recommends that anyone thinking of using an e-cigarette in order to stop smoking should access support from an e-cigarette shop that works with Provide as their advice can ensure you get the product that will work best for you. He explains that he didn’t think he could ever quit smoking but e-cigarettes made that possible. They helped him to stop smoking and he believes that if he can do it, anyone can.”
For more information contact Provide Communications at provide.communications@nhs.net or telephone 0300 303 2669.
Notes for Editors
Stoptober 2018
Useful information and tips from the national Stoptober campaign are available from: www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober
The Essex Lifestyle Service is part of Provide. Click here to visit the Provide website (www.provide.org.uk) and find out more.
Provide is a staff-owned community interest company (often referred to as a social enterprise). It was established in April 2011 and delivers community health and care services across Essex, outer north east London, and East Anglia.
We currently employ around 1,050 people in frontline roles (such as doctors, nurses and therapists) and in supporting roles (such as receptionists, booking clerks and facilities staff). We deliver a wide range of services, these include: community nursing, stroke rehabilitation, physiotherapy, specialist services for children and people with long term conditions, healthy lifestyles services (such as stop smoking services) and sexual health services. Our care services enable people to live independent lives.
Our staff deliver care from three community hospitals (Halstead Hospital, Braintree Community Hospital, and St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon) as well as from community clinics and in people’s homes. They are committed to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care and to ensuring that those who use our services have a positive patient experience.
We share the ethos and values of the NHS and many of the benefits available to our staff are equivalent, or comparable, to those in NHS organisations.
As a community interest company any surplus that our staff make, by working more innovatively and effectively, is reinvested into our services and/or the local communities that we serve.
Provide’s services are commissioned by the NHS, local councils, the education sector and the charity/voluntary sector. Its services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the organisation contributes to the wider public health agenda in its local communities.
