Quit Your Way this No Smoking Day 2019

NHS Tayside Quit Your Way services are encouraging people to stub out the habit this No Smoking Day (Wednesday, 13 March) using the support available in Tayside.

Longforgan mum Michelle Robertson received support from Lloyds pharmacy in Lochee to quit smoking and said she has already seen massive benefits since quitting.

Michelle, who started smoking at 16-years-old, decided to take the plunge and ask for help at the pharmacy after deciding she wanted to quit smoking for her own health. She now attends the pharmacy for weekly carbon monoxide testing and further support.

Michelle said, “I just came in one day to the pharmacy and said I was looking for some help to give up smoking and I started from that day and I have not looked back. I have been using Champix which has really helped me.

“I decided to give up for my health and because I was spending too much money! I’ve already saved £350 since quitting which I am planning to go on holiday with.  I’m determined I’m not going to go back to smoking this time.”

I’ve already saved £350 since quitting which I am planning to go on holiday with!

Michelle said she has already experienced a range of benefits since starting the Quit Your Way programme.

“As well as financial benefits, I’ve improved my fitness and I don’t feel breathless anymore”, she said. “I feel fitter and my husband says I also don’t snore anymore! I would recommend going along to the pharmacy for support to anyone. The support you get is really good and has really helped me quit. I am determined to keep going.”

Giving up smoking is the single most important lifestyle decision that anyone can make to improve their health immediately. Anyone who wants to stop smoking can visit any local community pharmacy or call the Quit Your Way service locally on 01382 424127 to find out about all the ways NHS Tayside can help support people to become smoke free.

NHS Tayside has two incentive schemes to quit smoking that offer £12.50 a week in vouchers to spend at a local supermarket.  Your pharmacy can let you know if you are eligible for these 12-week programmes. 

For all pregnant women trying to quit, there is also an incentive scheme which gives people free support, products and an incentive of £12.50 per week for up to three months after their baby is born.

You can find and like the Tayside Quit Your Way service page on Facebook by searching for Tayside Quit Your Way. There’s lots of information about the programmes that offer support through Champix, which is a tablet that blocks the desire to smoke and free nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gum etc).

NHS Tayside’s hospital grounds are now all smoke free. Community pharmacies provide smoking cessation information and support to NHS staff, patients and members of the public, including the availability of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Help is also available for patients to help them remain smoke free while in hospital.

Only one in six people now smoke and NHS Tayside’s policy aims to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the people using our services. NHS Tayside’s no smoking policy covers all NHS Tayside premises and grounds. It aims to contribute to the improvement of the health of the population of Tayside.

NHS Tayside’s smoking policy now allows the use of e-cigarettes on NHS Tayside grounds but they remain prohibited in buildings and enclosed spaces.

Later this year, the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc And Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 will make it illegal to smoke within 15 metres of a hospital building. Anyone breaking this law will be liable to receive a fixed penalty notice which can be issued by enforcement officers employed by the Local Authority. Guidance about the new law will be issued by the Scottish Government, including the responsibilities of NHS and Local Authorities and how they will work in partnership to enforce it.