NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE SMOKERS OFFERED
MORE QUITTING SUPPORT THAN EVER
– Supporting Smokers to Quit across North Lincolnshire
– Stopping Smoking is as easy as 1, 2, 3 with Smokefreelife North Lincolnshire
30 June 14
Smokers in North Lincolnshire looking to quit now have a wider range of free support on offer to increase their chances of success.
The authority’s public health team has commissioned healthcare innovations company, Solutions 4 Health to help reduce smoking prevalence across North Lincolnshire by reaching out to smokers across the county with a new tiered approach to quitting. Tier 1 offers free, face to face support with local clinics in a range of settings, including the new “wellness on wheels”. The mobile unit takes support and advice directly to local communities and into workplaces, with an emphasis of delivering support to those hardly reached areas. Tier 2 is a free Quitline support, offering telephone contact, text and email to those who may not wish to access the more traditional face-to-face support. The Tier 3 service is an interactive online service, allowing the user to “drop in” online as and when they need the support.
The Smokefreelife North Lincolnshire service aims to help 1500 smokers a year quit, and to support many others accessing advice and support if they are starting to think about becoming smoke free. Jacqueline Ralph, Solutions 4 Health’s Public Health Improvement and Operations Manager, said: “Research shows that smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully when they have professional support. Our tiered support gives smokers the best possible chance of quitting for good.”
Almost 23 per cent of North Lincolnshire adults are smokers. Smoking remains the nation’s biggest killer with half of long-term smokers dying prematurely from smoking diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease. However, within just one year of quitting the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker and by 15 years the risk is the same as someone who has never smoked.
Frances Cunning, Director of Public Health at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We recognise that stopping smoking is the single most important thing that people can do to improve their health and to save money. The council has a public health duty to help its residents live healthier lives and wants to make it as easy as possible for people who want to stop smoking to quit. We are very pleased to have Solutions 4 Health (S4H) working alongside us for the good of North Lincolnshire’s residents.”
Greg Gough, Tobacco Control Strategy Coordinator at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The council has awarded the contract to provide stop smoking support to Solutions 4 Health (S4H). S4H was both the most cost effective provider and is most able to meet our specific local needs. It is a very energetic, innovative and expert provider of stop smoking services and is able to provide the best possible support for North Lincolnshire. S4H will offer a flexible, free to use service using a range of support methods that will meet the needs of every smoker in North Lincolnshire.”
ENDS
Note to News Editors:
Faiqa Ahmed Khan – Communications Officer, Solutions 4 Health LTD, faiqa.ahmed-khan@Solutions4health.co.uk; 0118 925 3325
Jacq Ralph – Operations Manager, Solutions 4 Health LTD, Jacqueline.Ralph@solutions4health.co.uk; 07789 778975
Contacts:
Editors Notes:
www.smokefreenorthlincolnshire.co.uk
SmokeFreeLife is a face to face consultation and community support service, including the world’s first online stop-smoking service to feature video chat and instant text messaging. Tackling healthcare inequalities, the service is ideal for those finding it difficult to get to traditional clinics, are house-bound, unable to travel, may not have English as their first language, or require sign language support. Online support is also available at www.smokefreelife.co.uk.
Solutions4Health is an innovative and successful healthcare provider, with three divisions: healthcare, telehealth and information systems. It sets the industry standard for tackling health inequalities on behalf of primary and secondary care NHS services, local authorities and Public Health England to achieve their targets and outcomes, using innovative methods that take healthcare to the people. www.solutions4health.co.uk
