Hannah Corless (left), Helen Fletcher and Ashraf Ali outside the new mobile Stop Smoking facility that will be at Blackpool Victoria Hospital every Monday between 10am and 5pm
A unique new service helping people to stop smoking is available at Blackpool Victoria Hospital every Monday.
The Smokefreelife Blackpool service, run by Solutions 4 Health, has experts who visit the hospital every Monday between 10am and 5pm to offer their services to patients, visitors and staff.
Stop Smoking Specialists from Solutions 4 Health, who have been commissioned by Blackpool Council to run the service, have a specially adapted vehicle offering free, private and confidential advice and support for anyone interested in stopping smoking.
Su Sear, Regional Public Health Services Lead for Solutions 4 Health, said: “We are keen to give smokers the best possible chance of quitting smoking which is why we offer so many different methods of support.
“Our mobile clinic provides easily accessible support as people can just drop in for advice for themselves or someone they know. Our advisors will be at the hospital every Monday and will be looking to speak to any visitors or staff who may want help to stop smoking.
“They can offer a first appointment in private and support people from that moment. All of our stop smoking sessions are really informal and people can just drop in at a time that’s convenient for them.’’
Hannah Corless. Healthier Workforce Project Manager at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to be working so closely with Solutions 4 Health because we know they offer stop smoking support that really works.
“Stopping smoking is one of the biggest health changes you can make to your life.
“The impact stopping smoking has on your health and wellbeing is diverse, from more money in your pocket, to a reduced likelihood of long term health conditions such as COPD and lung cancer.
“By stopping smoking you are more likely to have a better quality of life for a more sustained period of time, which means you may be able to partake in day to day tasks such as walking to the shops and interacting with younger family members more easily.
“Stopping smoking with support from a specialist advisor makes you four times more likely to succeed in your quit attempt and by providing regular sessions and easy access we are confident that we can play our bit in offering a large number of people the chance to quit.’’
For more information or simply an informal chat about stopping smoking, please call the Smokefreelife Blackpool service on 0800 246 1576 or 01253 462463 or text QUIT to 66777. Visit their website for your nearest locations www.smokefreelifeblackpool.co.uk.
For additional hints and tips to quit smoking visit www.facebook.com/smokefreelife-blackpool and www.twitter.com/bplstopsmoking