MONDAY, 6 MARCH, 2023

EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01am, Wednesday 8 March.

Photographs attached:1 –Samantha Roberts and NHS Tayside support worker Tracey Kerrigan at Lochee Community Larder 2 – l-r Saoirse Bucklay (volunteer coordinator), Maree Conventry (volunteer), Sam Glover (volunteer) and Sarah Armstrong (NHS project worker) at Letham4all

Quit and Win this No Smoking Day

NHS Tayside is encouraging people to stub out tobacco this No Smoking Day and access the support available across Tayside to help them quit smoking.

No Smoking Day (Wed, 8 March) is an annual campaign to celebrate the achievements of those who have successfully quit smoking, and to encourage people who currently smoke to consider quitting. This year’s theme is Quit and Win which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking, for you and your family, health, finances and wellbeing.

In the run up to No Smoking Day, the NHS Tayside Quit Your Way team has been taking part in a number of community activities to share information about the support available locally to quit smoking and the benefits it can lead to.

In Dundee, the team has been working with the Lochee Community Larder, which was set up to offer a local food larder to help combat food poverty and promote community development. People visiting the larder have recently been provided with information about the Quit Your Way services available at local community pharmacies, as well as other public health topics, such as diet and exercise.

Samantha Roberts, one of the founders of the Lochee Community Larder, said, “Lochee is an area which has been hit hard by the rising cost of living and this is why the Quit and Win message for No Smoking Day really helps our community. Quitting smoking and having more money is an obvious win for our customers. The Quit Your Way support complements the services we offer at the larder and this scheme will have a positive impact on people’s lives and health.”

The Quit Your Way team also recently took part in a series of cost of living roadshows across Angus to support people concerned about increasing household bills.

The roadshows, held in Arbroath, Brechin and Forfar, were organised by the Angus Community Planning Partnership to offer free professional advice on range of topics to help deal with the increased cost of living. The Quit Your Way team offered advice and information about the benefits of quitting tobacco for good, including the financial savings that can be made.

Staff from the Quit Your Way team are also working alongside the Letham4All Community Fridge project to promote the Quit and Win message and share information about the support services available locally.

Gordon Ferguson from Letham4All said, “We have plans to continue this partnership working within our community. By working in the heart of the community with the community fridge project, the Quit Your Way team has been able to offer support and information to people in a place that is accessible to them.”

NHS Tayside Consultant in Public Health Andrew Radley said, “Quitting smoking can lead to a richer life in more ways than one. It will save you money but it can also lead to improved physical health. Giving up smoking is the single most important lifestyle decision that anyone can make to improve their health immediately.

“People are four times more likely to stop smoking for good if they use the stop smoking support available. You can access free medication and support that’s right for you at your local community pharmacy, which improves your chances of quitting long-term.

“NHS Tayside Quit Your Way services are available for anyone who wants to stop smoking in Tayside.”

People can visit any local community pharmacy or contact the Quit Your Way service locally on 01382 424127 or tay.smokingcessationservice@nhs.scot to find out about all the ways NHS Tayside can help support people to become smoke free.

NHS Tayside also has an incentive scheme to quit smoking that offers £50 a month in weekly vouchers to spend at a local supermarket. Your local pharmacy can give you more information and let you know if you are eligible.

You can follow the Tayside Quit Your Way service page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nhstaysidequityourway where you can find lots of information about the support available.

NHS Tayside has a strict No Smoking Policy which makes all NHS Tayside premises and grounds smoke free, a policy which is in line with all Health Board sites across Scotland.

New legislation has also recently been introduced by the Scottish Government, making it an offence to smoke within 15 metres of a hospital building.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138