Resources to help smokers quit

Jennifer Percival RN, RM, RHV, FETC is tobacco policy advisor at the Royal College of Nursing.

RN, RM, RHV, FETC is tobacco policy advisor at the Royal College of Nursing.

Nurses have an important role in helping patients to stop smoking. All enclosed public places in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now smoke-free and with England set to follow on 1 July 2007 many current smokers may be planning a quit attempt. There are many resources available to help you undertake this work effectively.

Nurses have an important role in helping patients to stop smoking. All enclosed public places in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now smoke-free and with England set to follow on 1 July 2007 many current smokers may be planning a quit attempt. There are many resources available to help you undertake this work effectively.

Local NHS Stop Smoking Services:

There are over 170 established local NHS Stop Smoking Services throughout England. Scotland and Wales have similar systems in place. One in two people who use their local NHS Stop Smoking Service are not smoking four weeks later.

Details about NHS Stop Smoking service are available at www.gosmokefree.co.uk

Telephone helplines:

The NHS Smoking Helpline:
This is staffed by specialist advisers and lines are open everyday from 7am to 11pm.
Contact details:
English and Wales Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0 169
Northern Ireland Smoking Helpline 0800 85 85 85
Scotland Smoking Helpline 0800 84 84 84
A textphone service is available for people with hearing difficulties on 0800 169 0 171.

NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline:
This helpline offers specialist help and advice on stopping smoking during pregnancy. Lines are open daily from 12 noon to 9pm. Tel: 0800 169 9 169

NHS Asian Tobacco Helpline:
The following helpline numbers allow callers to speak to an expert in their preferred language. Lines are open from 1pm to 9pm every Tuesday.
Contact details:
Urdu 0800 169 0 881
Punjabi 0800 169 0 882
Hindi 0800 169 0 883
Gujarati 0800 169 0 884
Bengali 0800 169 0 885

The Together Programme:
The Together Programme is a new initiative that provides smokers with practical help and advice during each stage of the giving up process. Registration packs are sent to the smoker's home and are followed up with emails, phone calls and text messages. Tel: 0800 169 0 169.

Publications:
A wide range of free NHS materials is available that provide information and advice on stopping smoking. Some of the most popular resources can be downloaded free or ordered from the NHS Helpline and website www.gosmokefree.co.uk

Resources include:

• Stop Smoking Start Living
• Deciding to Give Up Tobacco Use
• Giving up for Life (available in several languages)

Websites:

ASH: www.ash.org.uk.

This site provides a summary of the UK and international evidence on the harm caused by tobacco use. Factsheets and the latest advice on how to stop smoking and treatment therapies can also be downloaded.

British Heart Foundation: www.bhf.org.uk

Produces a range of literature, posters, leaflets and other resources to help smokers to quit. The website promotes healthy living and gives advice on the importance of a healthy heart.

British Lung Foundation: www.blf-uk.org

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is the only charity in the UK dedicated to improving the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of all lung diseases. They have specific material about stopping smoking.

GASP Smoke Free Solutions: www.gasp.org.uk

GASP supplies leaflets, books, educational packs, training manuals, displays, posters, 3D models, carbon monoxide monitors, testing equipment and promotional items for professionals and the public on all aspects of smoking prevention. Catalogues are available by post or on the website. Tel: 0117 955 0101.

No Smoking Day: www.nosmokingday.org.uk

No Smoking Day (NSD) runs on the second Wednesday in March each year. The campaign has a comprehensive website encouraging people to stop smoking.

QUIT: www.quit.org.uk

QUIT is the independent charity which aims to save lives by helping smokers to stop. The site offers a freephone number for smokers wanting to quit. Quit produces a wide range of resources for purchase including ones specifically targeting teenagers.

Tobacco Fact File: www.tobaccofactfile.org

Tobacco Fact File presents key facts and data about tobacco.

Treat Tobacco: www.treattobacco.net

This website covers a wide range of topics - offering solutions to various problems and help, advice and links to useful websites.