TUESDAY, 5 MAY, 2015

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED – (L-R)KINGSWAY CARE CENTRE STAFF UNITY PLUCK, AMANDA MACHIN, LINDA SIMPSON, DEBORAH HUGHES AND NICKI GILLESPIE

Kingsway Care Centre staff working together to kick the smoking habit

A group of staff from Kingsway Care Centre have proved the value of teamwork after successfully quitting smoking together.

One by one, eight colleagues from Ward 3 have given up cigarettes since the start of the year and have supported each other to keep going.

Each member of the group – health care assistants Deborah Hughes, Linda Simpson, Unity Pluck, Allison Paeth and Eileen McNamees, staff nurse Amanda Machin, domestic assistant Nicki Gillespie and recently retired enrolled nurse Veronica Jarrett - has experienced health benefits and also saved hundreds of pounds since giving up smoking.

Deborah said she was thrilled to finally quit the habit.

Deborah said, “I wanted to give up for a long time and I decided to make the date January 1. I smoked for 28 years since I was 16 but I have now completely stopped. I have definitely noticed a difference in myself. I go running and I can really see a change in my fitness and my breathing.

“The first few weeks of giving up were really difficult for everyone but it is about changing your habits and we all supported each other.”

Linda smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 40 years before she finally gave up in January and said giving up smoking has given her a new lease of life.

She said, “I do feel so much better than I did before and I have lost weight as well. We have all supported each other.

“Everyone has stopped smoking for their own reasons but we have all helped one another if we got tempted.

“I would definitely recommend people give up smoking. None of us would want to go back now!

“People should take up the help and support available for anyone who wants to quit – it’s definitely worth it.”

NHS Tayside operates a no smoking policy on all sites and grounds to continue to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of all patients, visitors and staff.

The Scottish Government has set out the ambition for Scotland to be a place where almost nobody smokes. NHS Tayside supports this ambition and asks that people who wish to smoke, only do so outwith NHS Tayside premises or grounds.

From 31 March 2015 all hospital sites across Scotland became smoke free to meet the requirements of the Scottish Government’s tobacco control strategy.

Support to stop smoking or refrain from smoking while on NHS sites is available to patients, visitors and staff from the NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services and local pharmacies.

Tayside Smoke Free Services offer free advice, support and free stop smoking treatments such as nicotine patches. Support from Smoke Free services, means you are four times more likely to stop successfully than if you go it alone.

Giving up smoking is the single most important lifestyle decision that anyone can make to improve their

health immediately.

Anyone who would like support can call NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services on 0845 600 999 6 to find out about all the ways in which NHS Tayside can help support people to become smoke free. Anyone who wants to stop smoking can also visit their local pharmacist to find out more about a free programme of support to quit smoking. You can also join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nhstaysidesmokefree

Health benefits to quitting smoking

• 20 minutes after quitting your blood pressure and pulse return to normal

• 48 hours - no nicotine is left in your body. Your senses of taste and smell are greatly improved

• 72 hours - your breathing becomes easier and your energy levels increase

• 2-12 weeks after quitting smoking your circulation improves and exercise can be easier

• 3-9 months - any coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve

• Within one year the risk of heart attack is halved

• Within 10 years the risk of lung cancer is halved and the risk of heart attack is at the same level

as non-smokers

• Medium to long term – stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy, provided you

stop before the onset of serious disease. Even if you have developed a disease, you can benefit

from stopping as your body will be under less strain and be able to fight it more easily

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134