Get help to quit smoking this Stoptober

Stoptober, the biggest stop smoking challenge of its kind, is next month and people who smoke in Wandsworth are urged to sign up now.

“I smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 15 years. I was a ‘proper’ smoker, and had tried every conceivable method to stop,” said a 33-year-old dad who quit with the help of the Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service.

“The reason that prompted me to stop this time was the fact that I have two beautiful children who deserve a healthy father; I also have a friend who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Now I feel proud, healthier, happier, motivated, relaxed, changed and, best all, surprised.”

Launched in 2012, Stoptober is the 28-day stop smoking challenge that encourages and supports smokers across England towards quitting for good. Last year, more than 550 people in Wandsworth pledged to stub out their cigarette habit as part of the campaign.

Dr Charlotte Levitt, a local GP and one of the leads for Respiratory services at NHS Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said local people can sign up to Stoptober now and start preparing to quit smoking from 1 October:
“If you smoke, giving up is probably the biggest single step you can take to improve your health and I’d encourage anyone who wants to give up smoking to sign up for Stoptober.”

Director of public health for Wandsworth Council, Houda Al-Sharifi, said:
"Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable deaths in Wandsworth, which is why helping quit is one of the council’s priorities. We offer support through our stop smoking service, and help is also available from your GP or pharmacy, so I would urge smokers to sign up to the Stoptober challenge and make 2015 the year they quit for good.”

Evidence shows that people who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smoke-free and, as well as improving their health could save almost £2,000 a year.

For residents who want help quitting, personalised stop smoking support, such as drop-in clinics and specialist advice in pharmacies and GP surgeries, is available borough-wide.

As an added incentive, this year Stoptober coincides with the introduction of a new law that bans smoking in any car or other vehicle carrying a child under 18. Anyone caught doing so will be handed an on-the-spot fine of £50 by the police. It will also be illegal to sell e-cigarettes or refills to anyone under 18, or for anyone to purchase them on their behalf.

For personalised support in quitting smoking visit the Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service website or call the 24 hour helpline on 0800 389 7921. Users of e-cigarettes are welcome to access this service for support.

No appointment is required for support to quit smoking at following drop-in sessions:

Queen Mary’s Hospital Cardiology unit, Roehampton Lane, Roehampton - Tuesdays 10am-3pm
St George’s Hospital (Atkinson Morley Wing) Blackshaw Road, Tooting - Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-3pm.

September 15, 2015