The NHS Stop Smoking Service across the county is now classed as ‘gold standard’ (see notes for editors) after it helped almost three and half thousand people to quit in 2008/09.
In the NHS Hastings and Rother area the service aided 1519 people, 95 more than the target, whilst in NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald 1919 clients gave up tobacco, meaning 97% of the target figure was reached.
Stuart Ramsbottom, a Health Promotion Specialist with NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother, says:
“These figures are really encouraging and are just reward for all the hard work put in by the East Sussex Stop Smoking Team.
The team offer 40 drop in clinics across the county, as well as specialist services for pregnant women, and they can even come to your workplace to help you and any workmates quit smoking.
You can also get help and advice on giving up smoking from your GP or local pharmacist.
It is great that we have helped an increased number of people to quit in recent months and we will be looking to build on that for the future.”
If you want help and advice on giving up smoking, then please get in touch via tel 0800 917 8896 or visit www.smokefreeeastsussex.org.
You can also visit your GP.
