WEDNESDAY, 24 JULY, 2024

Immediate release:

Photograph attached: Kelly Barnes

Stop smoking and save money this summer!

A Dundee charity worker is thrilled to be saving £100 a month since giving up smoking after 33 years.

Kelly Barnes, who is on the Board of Boomerang Community Centre based in Stobswell, made the decision to quit smoking after seeking support from Wallacetown Pharmacy in Dundee.

Kelly started smoking at the age of 14 and, although she has made previous attempts to quit over the years, this time she was determined to get the support she needed to finally quit for good.

She was in her local pharmacy when she saw a stop smoking poster on the wall and was inspired to ask about the free Quit Your Way programme. Kelly was provided with information about the support available locally to quit smoking, such as free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products and the Tayside Stop Smoking Incentive Scheme.

Kelly said, “I saw the poster and I asked about the service there and then. I had previously tried to quit myself by going cold turkey but this time I was advised about using NRT. I set a quit date and I left the pharmacy that day with the NRT products to help me.”

Motivated to stay on track, Kelly has not smoked since signing up to the 12-week Quit Your Way programme which provides weekly support to remain smoke free. By staying smoke free and taking part in the Tayside Stop Smoking Incentive Scheme, Kelly has also received £150 worth of supermarket vouchers, in addition to the money she has saved by not smoking.

On average, smokers who smoke 20 cigarettes a day can save up to £840 in 12 weeks and over £3,000 in a year by giving up smoking.

Kelly said she is delighted with the physical and financial benefits she has experienced since giving up smoking.

“I find that I am no longer out of breath and I can just breathe more easily,” she said. “The best thing is that I am now saving around £100 a month by not buying cigarettes. It has made such a difference.

“The pharmacy staff were really supportive throughout the 12-week programme and even now, they have told me that I can always contact them any time I feel like I’m struggling. This is such an impressive service and it really gives me comfort that the support is there when I need it.”

NHS Tayside health promotion worker Sarah Armstrong said, “Well done to Kelly for taking the steps to stop smoking – it is such an achievement. There is so much support available for people who would like to quit and Kelly proves that just because you have smoked for a long time, it doesn’t mean you always have to.

“Quitting smoking can lead to so many benefits – 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 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 chance 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, call the Quit Your Way service on 01382 424127 or email tay.smokingcessationservice@nhs.scot to find out about all the ways NHS Tayside can help support people to become smoke free.

The Tayside Stop Smoking Incentive Scheme offers eligible people £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 for the incentive scheme.

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 line with all Health Board sites across Scotland.

Legislation has also 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