More quitters than smokers The success of the HSE Quit programme over the past decade has meant there are now more quitters than smokers in our midst.
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hile the pandemic has wrought such devastating consequences and impacted on every aspect of our lives, hundreds of individuals and many HSE staff are positively looking to make the break and quit smoking for good. Having someone as empathetic, knowledgeable and positive as Cork-based Smoking Cessation Officer Miriam O’Shea there to provide assistance is a welcome bonus. Offering tailored support to both HSE staff as well as the general public, Miriam says the last 18 months have seen continuing referrals to the service. “It has been constant. Obviously at the start of the pandemic we had to cease physical face to face interactions, so we had to reorganise how we deliver our service. But we were already well placed to do that and so now we are offering virtual appointments through Attend Anywhere, the secure platform video link. We offer telephone support as well – for a lot of people, that phone access is sufficient. And so the reality for us is that we are actually reaching more people at the moment because of the new way of working,” said Miriam. “Some people are particularly delighted that in the middle of the pandemic they can have this service brought right into their living room. I have one client whom I ring at 11.30am every week for her follow up appointment. That’s the time her baby has gone to sleep. She can chat, we talk through everything and most importantly it means
she doesn’t have to take her baby out of the house, or find a sitter. It means I am working around her and her daily routine which suits her best.” Miriam said her referrals come from a variety of sources. “They come from across the spectrum – selfreferral, GP referral, hospitals, community based health professionals like dieticians. Selfreferrals are more likely to be coming through the National Quit team but they can re-direct
people back into the local services for clients who are looking for face-to-face support or group support. It’s never quiet,” she said. The focus on encouraging people to quit for 28 days is based on international research and evidence. The process of supporting them in person and with products like Nicotine Replacement Therapy provides increases their chances of success. “When you get support in quitting, you are doubling your chances of succeeding. When
5 TOP TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING:
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Prepare to quit: write down your reasons for quitting. Keep them close or stick them on your fridge as a reminder to stay strong. Change your routine and habits - do you normally have a cigarette with a coffee or tea? Then change your routine – have a cup of water instead or hold your cup in the other hand. Keep check on cravings –your craving for nicotine will peak at 3-5 minutes and will pass if you deal with it. Get by with a little help from your friends – supportive friends, family and even work colleagues could make all the difference to you on your QUIT journey. The single best advice is to help yourself QUIT by getting support from the QUIT Team. Our service is available to everyone and is free of charge. By using a support service like ours makes you twice as likely to succeed. Find details of your local free HSE stop smoking supports.
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Have your heard of the 4Ds? 1. Delay at least 3 – 5 minutes and the urge will pass 2. Drink a glass of water or fruit juice 3. Distract yourself, move away from the situation 4. Deep breathe – breathe slowly and deeply.
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