The harmful effects of smoking are well known and include cancer, heart disease and lung disease. Smoking also has serious implications for the health of babies and children. Within 24 hours of stopping, a smoker’s blood pressure and lungs will already be showing signs of improvement. Every cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals including cyanide and arsenic – around 60 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoking 20 cigarettes a day is equivalent to approximately £3,000 a year.
The Stop Smoking Service assists individuals who wish to stop smoking through adopting a supportive, empathetic and non-judgemental approach. This service is provided within primary and secondary healthcare, workplaces, schools and community/voluntary sector groups and is open to everyone. More people succeed with our Stop Smoking Service than with any other way.
The Stop Smoking Team works towards providing the most effective, evidence based stop smoking interventions for the public by providing intensive behavioural support for smokers who want to quit.
-
Smoking Cessation Service
- Our service offers a free and flexible service to anyone who is keen to stop smoking
- Most smokers underestimate the effectiveness of professional help
- You are up to four times more likely to stop smoking with help
- The sooner you stop, the sooner your health will start to improve.
Contact Western Smoking Cessation Service helpline number for more information, support and advice on 08009179388
Our team of dedicated nurse specialist will help guide you through a tailored made 12 week programme providing support, motivation and stop smoking medication if required.
Smoking Cessation Clinics
Location Time Day South West Acute Hospital 6.00pm-7.30pm Mondays Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex 5.30pm-7.00pm Tuesdays Shared Future Centre Currently Postponed Currently Postponed Skeoge Community Hub 5.30pm-7.00pm Mondays Strabane Health Centre 4.30pm-6.00pm Tuesdays Limavady Health Centre 2.00pm-4.00pm Mondays -
Smokefree Videos
-
Make March Your Month to Quit
March sees the beginning of No Smoking Month. As part of this campaign, the Western Trust Smoking Cessation Nurse Specialist team would like to invite you to ‘Make March your month to quit’. This year the team stresses the importance of knowing the risks of smoking on the respiratory system.
Speaking on behalf of the team Michelle Scott said:
“Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in the UK. One in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease. The evidence clearly shows COVID-19 virus attacks the respiratory system, smoking harms the immune system and smokers are therefore less protected and are at a greater risk. Officials have said smokers with coronavirus are 14 times more likely to develop severe symptoms, as the virus attacks the respiratory system, with both smoking and passive smoking weakening lungs. The best thing you can do for you and your loved ones is to use this opportunity to stop smoking now.”
Dr Catherine McDonnell, Western Trust Medical Director said:
“It is evident that the COVID-19 virus will be with us for a long time. There is a consistent association between smoking and the risk of COVID-19 related death. Therefore there has never been a more important time to stop smoking. Not only for your own health but to protect those around you. It will also help alleviate the huge pressures on the health and social care system.”
Read more about Making March Your Month to Quit
-
Make this the month you quit | Take part in our 28 Day Challenge
To take part in our 28 day Digital Smoking Cessation Challenge – simply download the following materials and share with your employees and use on your social media channels.
Read more about the 28 Day Challenge
Digital Assets
-
Resources to help you quit
Contact your local G.P for support and advice
Local Smoking Cessation Pharmacy/chemist that offers Smoking Cessation support
Contact Western Smoking Cessation Service helpline number for more information, support and advice on 08009179388
Our team of dedicated nurse specialist will help guide you through a tailored made 12 week programme providing support, motivation and stop smoking medication if required
- Click here for hear success stories, to read about why to quit and how to quit
- Click here for ways to quit
- Click here to order your free quit kit from Public Health Agency
- Click here to find out where your local support is
For leaflets and other literature you can purchase through https://www.gasp.org.uk/ or contact your local Western Trust Stop Smoking Specialist service on 08009179388
-
Smokefree Policy
The Western Trust is a Health Promoting Organisation and has a Smokefree Policy. Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on Trust premises including, entrances, doorways, walkways, private owned or trust cars, car parks, in bicycle or bus shelters, internal roads etc.
The policy applies to all staff, patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers and anyone who enters the Trust’s hospitals, buildings and grounds. This ensures a healthier, cleaner and pleasant environment for all and promotes better health outcomes for our patients and service users. Overall the Smokefree Policy has received widespread support and compliments from Trust employees, service users and the public.
-
Smokefree Car Legislation | From 1 February 2022
From 1 February, it will be illegal to smoke in a private vehicle where children or young people under the age of 18 are present, when there is more than one person in the vehicle, and the vehicle is enclosed. A vehicle is still enclosed even if the windows are down and/ or the doors are open. It will be an offence to smoke in such a vehicle and it will also be an offence for a driver not to prevent smoking.
For more information on the new legislation visit Smoking and vaping regulations in Northern Ireland | nidirect
-
Coming to hospital
If you are a smoker who is due to come into hospital, stopping weeks or if possible months before your stay will help your recovery. Speak to a member of your health care team who will assist you and refer you on to our stop smoking team.
For information or support from the Stop Smoking Team please contact the Western Trust Stop Smoking Service
-
Smoking Cessation Catalogue of Resources
Pregnancy and Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Stopping smoking made easier (English and translations)
Smoke Free Staff Information Leaflet
Smoke Free Patient Information
Posters for downloading and printing
There are a number of other publicity materials relating to the effects of smoking on the body which include a range of morbidities such as on cardiac disease, respiratory, cancer, mental health etc. For further information or to request additional materials, please call the dedicated smoking cessation helpline number on 08009179388.
-
Contact Us
For more information on Smoking Cessation, please contact the Health Improvement Equality and Involvement Department on;
Email: health.improvement@westerntrust.hscni.net
Phone: 028 7186 5127
