World No Tobacco Day - 31 May

It’s World No Tobacco Day on 31st May and Smoking Matters – the Stop Smoking Services in Orkney are playing a key role in the push for a Smokefree Orkney.

Smoking Matters has made big differences for some ex smokers in Orkney. Ewan Brown speaking from home in Kirkwall, is a classic example of the impact of the services.

Ewan said - “It’s made a big, big difference. They were perfect for me- the staff really helped me quit the fags”

Smoking Matters Orkney - For an appointment or informal chat please call 0800 0356344

“My way into smoking was the Royal Navy. I joined when I was fifteen in 1965 - they gave you duty free fags back then. But I first ever smoked when I was twelve tattie picking. Over the years I’d tried to quit a couple of times, but struggled - so all in all I’d smoked 20 fags a day for fifty years”

Ewan’s daughter and son-in-law had successfully stopped smoking using the support from the local service and that was the motivation for Ewan to give it another go.

“My daughter wanted me to stop for my health and for the grand bairns”

I’ve not had a fag for just over two years now and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done – the family are delighted. I’ve six grand bairns and I can spend the money I would have spent on fags on them. The car’s nice to get into now too, I never realised that the smoke smell was so strong.

A FAMILY AFFAIR - Ewan’s son also quit recently, although he didn’t use the service.

Evonne Rendall, Health Improvement Officer and part of the public health team who run the Smoking Matters services said, “People do quit smoking on their own, which is a great achievement, but you can be more than four times as likely to be successful in quitting smoking using a service like Smoking Matters Orkney, than if you go it alone”. “And you'll feel the benefits of stopping smoking from day one. Quick wins such as saving money and fresher breath is followed by long term rewards for both mental and physical wellbeing”.

A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY - Orkney’s Director of Public Health, Dr Louise Wilson said “Currently just over 19 % of adults in Orkney smoke, we know from research that over 70% of smokers want to quit and that using stop smoking services offers the best chance of a person quitting successfully and for good. The services form part of a bigger picture in working towards a smokefree Orkney”.

“World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity to show how well the Smoking Matters services work in Orkney to support people. Our ultimate aim is for Orkney to become smokefree and a key part of our work towards this is supporting local people who want to stop smoking”.

Evonne went on to say “Working with Orkney Islands Council and other local partners we are focusing on preventing young people from starting to smoke, helping people to quit if they already smoke and protecting children from breathing smoke. This will all help Orkney become smokefree”.

Pictured is Ewan Brown who Quit smoking with Smoking Matters Orkney and has been smokefree for two years, four months 16 days!

Smoking Matters Orkney - For an appointment or informal chat please call 0800 0356344

Website - http://www.smokingmattersorkney.co.uk/

Smoking Matters Orkney is a free, confidential and specialist support service provided by NHS Orkney to help support anyone who wants to stop smoking. We treat everyone as an individual and work closely with you to find the right support to help you stop smoking. We offer one to one sessions with an advisor and while most clients need about 6 weeks of support in the lead up to their quit date and thereafter, sessions are flexible. We can provide telephone support and text support if attending sessions is difficult for you. Additionally if you have mobility, transport or childcare constraints an advisor can arrange a home visit for you. Sessions are currently held in various venues in Kirkwall and from the Stromness surgery on a Wednesday.

SAVING MONEY - A 10 a day smoker who decides to quit completely could save themselves about £23.50 a week, or more than £1,200 a year. On average, most people who quit save around £250 each month. That's nearly £3,000 a year going up in smoke.

Read more at https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/cost-calculator

http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB20781/stat-smok-eng-2016-rep.pdf)

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY - Every year, on 31 May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and additional risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – a threat to development." http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2017/event/en/

For further information, please contact: Evonne Rendall, Health Improvement Officer, Public Health Team NHS Orkney tel no. 01856 888154