London,
28
September
2017
|
18:27
Europe/London

Helping smokers to break the habit and breathe easier

A new stop smoking service has been launched in Camden and Islington to help smokers kick their habit for good.

Smokers who are looking to stop now have a wider range of free support available through the Breathe stop smoking service to increase their chances of success.

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the health of your family. Breathe offers free and confidential advice to people who live, work or study in Camden and Islington, with advisors who can provide a range of tailored methods to suit your way of breaking the habit.

When you need support, you can contact local advisors via text, phone or email, or visit the Breathe website for advice and information. For more intensive support you can also attend sessions with your advisor in person at a community location.

Next month is also Stoptober, Public Health England’s mass quitting campaign that begins on 1 October, making it the perfect time to think about giving up the habit.

“
Cllr Pat Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Tackling Health Inequality and Promoting Independence
Around one in six people smoke in Camden. Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable ill health and death in Camden, so it’s really important that smokers are given a range of support to help them stop smoking for good. Our new service, called Breathe, offers flexible and varied support to enable more residents to break the habit, and reduce the number of smokers in our borough. You are four times more likely to stop smoking with the support of a specialist advisor, so I am urging people to contact our service today.

 
Cllr Pat Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Tackling Health Inequality and Promoting Independence
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To find out more:

Background:

  • Smoking is one of the leading causes of death in Camden and Islington, claiming up to 241 lives each year per 100,000 residents and there were 1,657 smoking-related hospital admissions per 100,000 (Public Health England, 2015)
  • Smoking-related illnesses can be prevented and evidence suggests that people are four times more likely to give up smoking with support from a specialist advisor
  • The new service will cater to the needs of the local population by offering out of hours support for people who work and accessible clinics in local community settings, including community centres, leisure centres and GP surgeries
  • Smokers will have the option of attending group sessions, combining stopping smoking with fitness activities, receiving support via the Breathe online platform or personalised one to one sessions with an advisor.
  • Innovative healthcare provider, Solutions4Health, has been commissioned by Camden and Islington Councils to run the new service.