Local ex smokers are currently starring in a health push throughout Halton and St Helens encouraging others to stub out their habit.
The Quit hero campaign, created by the NHS Health Improvement Team, uses real life quitters at its forefront.
Local research tells us smokers are more likely to successfully quit if they can easily relate to those starring in the advertising.
Julie Tipton manages the SUPPORT Stop Smoking Service. She said:
“I would like to firstly congratulate our ex smokers who have brought this campaign to life and pass on my personal thanks for them not only quitting through our service, but the impact they will now have on many other smokers who are also looking for that trigger to stop.
“Without their support we would not have been able to run this campaign. Having their personal quit story to hand as well as using their photograph will mean so much to them as well as many others.”
Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of early death, killing 35 people a day (13,000 each year) in the North West alone. This is more deaths than from alcohol, drugs, obesity, illegal drugs and road accidents combined.
Changing local attitudes towards smoking will ultimately improve the economic, social and environmental health and wellbeing of our local communities.
63 year old Doug Carter is from Prescot. He agreed to take part in the latest Quit hero campaign:
“I started smoking woodbines, cigars and hand-rolling tobacco when I was aged 15. About a year and a half ago I got into a situation in which I started to lose loads of weight. I had trouble breathing so I went to see my doctor. My doctor said if I didn’t change my way, I’d probably end up on a ventilator or constant oxygen.
“I went to the support clinic in St Helens. They made me feel so comfortable.
“My job can be stressful at times and I have work colleagues who smoke. But since I’ve stopped I find myself calmer, I don’t panic, I’m not short of breath… It’s been great.
“Don’t try and stop on your own. I have tried that and it’s too hard. Go to the support clinic as they give you every bit of help you need.”
Jimmy Jones is from Hough Green in Widnes. He also stars in this latest phase of Quit hero marketing:
“I smoked out of boredom really. I’d probably smoke 20 a day but it could be as much as 50 a day if I was going out.
“I really wanted to quit for myself. I’m just better off without the ciggies. My girlfriend also said it was like kissing an ashtray.
“I went to the clinic and they made me feel at home straight away. The staff explained everything about quitting and it was just so easy to understand.
“You need to have the willpower to do it. Make sure you really want to give quitting a good shot but definitely go see the support team. It’s certainly changed my life.”
The SUPPORT Stop Smoking Service offers a number of easy ways to help you quit smoking including free advice and support, tailored to the individual needs of the smoker.
Services include:
- One-to-one support and advice from trained staff, for people motivated to stop smoking.
- Access to free or reduced cost Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) via a voucher scheme.
- SUPPORT within the workplace setting.
- SUPPORT for in-patients in local hospitals.
- Specialist advice to pregnant and breastfeeding smokers via our trained midwives.
- Training in delivering smoking cessation.
Accessing the SUPPORT Stop Smoking Service couldn’t be easier. Simply call 01744 814 837 (St Helens) or 01928 593 043 (Halton), speak to your GP/chemist or visit www.healthimprovementteam.co.uk for a full list of available stop smoking sessions.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors:
- The Health Improvement Team is part of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust (Halton and St Helens Division).
- The Health Improvement Team works in close partnership with St Helens Council and Halton Borough Council and is commissioned by NHS Halton and St Helens.
Photograph: Doug Carter from Prescot.
Photograph: Jimmy Jones from Hough Green
For further information about the content of this news release, please contact the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust (Halton and St Helens Division) Communications Team on 0151 495 5450.
Posted Friday 9th December 2011