Stop smoking services help two thirds in Bury to quit

Two thirds of Bury people who used ‘stop smoking’ services to quit are still tobacco-free a month later.

New figures show that 445 smokers out of the 665 (67%) who set a quit date with local services remained quit four weeks later.

The rate is much higher than the North West average, where the total was 42,879 out of 98,967. The tables were compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSIC) for the period April 2013 and March 2014.

Although numbers of smokers accessing local services are slightly down from last year - both nationally and in the North West – the standard of support is still recognised as very high by leading health professionals including Public Health England. One-to-one support is viewed as the most effective way to stop smoking, with quitting rates four times higher than going alone.

Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Tobacco Free Futures, said: “If you are thinking about quitting, get in touch with your local stop smoking service to receive free support and advice. With one-to-one support and free prescriptions, stop smoking services can really give you the extra help you need. Stopping smoking can be really tough, but even if you aren’t successful immediately, every quit attempt is another step on the journey to kicking the habit for good.

“As well as the money saved from stopping smoking, quitters will start to notice immediate health improvements. Longer term, those who stop smoking reduce their risk of heart disease and lung
cancer as well as protecting others from their second-hand smoke. If you smoke, quitting is the single best thing you can do for your health”.

Frances Carbery, health improvement specialist at Bury Council, said: “The success rate for Bury demonstrates the high quality of the ‘stop smoking’ services that we provide. Around two thirds of people who receive support to stop smoking in Bury successfully quit, adding years to their life and life to their years, as well as helping to protect those around them from the harms of second-hand smoke.”

Find your local stop smoking service at http://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/help-and-advice/local-support-services-helplines

Alternatively, call 0845 223 9001 or 0161 724 2152 to speak to somebody from the Bury Stop Smoking Service for free and confidential advice and support.

ENDS

Press release issued: 26 August 2014.