5 January 2012
One of the most senior doctors at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals is urging local people who've made a New Year's resolution to quit smoking to seek help and guidance from the beginning, in order to increase their chances of success.
Dr Ruth Charlton, the Trust's Joint Medical Director, has highlighted the Quit Kit, available from the NHS Smokefree website, as a key tool in the fight to kick the habit.
New and improved for 2012, the Quit Kit contains addiction tests, nicotine patches and gum, wall planners and a wealth of information and support designed to help smokers to give up.
Dr Charlton said: "Making a serious commitment to quit smoking is one of the best single things people can do, not only for their health but for that of the people around them.
"Unless you live in complete isolation, you will be affecting the health of others through passive smoking, particularly children. Evidence suggests that smoking near children is a contributory cause of conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses."
In addition to the Quit Kit, the NHS Smokefree website also boasts a number of features such as the 'Quit App' for iPhones, a downloadable 'Quit Widget' (a small graphics-based application that sits on your computer's desktop) and a cost calculator, allowing smokers to see exactly how much their habit is costing them.
Dr Charlton added: "It almost goes without saying that the other obvious benefit from quitting is that it's a good move financially. Over the course of ten years, a person smoking 20 cigarettes a day will see something in the region of £25,000 go up in smoke, quite literally.
"That's a significant amount of money on something that, to put it frankly, can have a dreadful effect on your health. The good news for smokers is that there is plenty of support out there - but they must take the first step towards quitting themselves."
To order a Quit Kit or to find out more about quitting smoking, visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk or call the NHS Stop Smoking helpline for free on 0800 022 4 332.
Sutton and Merton residents can find local stop smoking services at www.giveup4good.nhs.uk and Surrey residents should visit www.surreyquit.net for more information.
