Hoping to quit smoking during Stoptober? Help is at hand at The Princess Alexandra Hospital

A SURVEY of residents in Harlow found that people who have smoking or alcohol dependency appreciate the support their local hospital can provide. During October, there is additional help with the hospital’s action to help people give up smoking as part of the annual Stoptober campaign.

October is the month when thousands are helped to quit smoking and The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) is supporting the opportunity for people to give up.

Stoptober is the biggest annual quit smoking campaign and every year over 150,000 people resolve to give up during the month. There is evidence that if you quit smoking for more than 28 days, you are five more times likely to quit for good. Evidence also shows that you are four times more likely to give up for good with professional support.

PAHT works with Provide, a local smoking cessation support organisation to signpost and advise people on the support available. Staff from Provide will be at the hospital on Thursday 24 October and Thursday 31 October, between 11:30am and 1pm.

You can also sign up to Stoptober to create your own personal smoking quit plan from a brief questionnaire around your smoking habits and previous quit attempts.
The service will explain all the smoking cessations treatments and medications and how they help you quit.

Jim McLeish, director, quality improvement at PAHT, said: “Stoptober is great in giving people motivation with lots of advice and information to help you give up the habit for the sake of your health.

“It is recognised that smoking is a major health hazard and the hospital has a role in preventing this. We are delighted to be working with Provide who can offer advice and information. They will be onsite next week so that patients, visitors and staff can get the support that is crucial in enabling smokers to quit.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind people that all NHS sites are smoke-free. For the benefit of other patients and visitors to PAHT, smoking is not permitted anywhere on our site and you may be asked to extinguish your cigarette if you light up.”