Quit smoking for your health and finances!

SPOTLIGHT

Quit smoking for your health and finances!

YOU COULD SAVE AS MUCH AS £2,300 OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR...

Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. There are no health upsides to tobacco addiction at all.

And it’s also very bad for your finances.

With a pack of 20 cigarettes costing as much as £13.50, a tena-day habit could cost a whopping £2,300 over the course of a year. If you’re a smoker, isn’t there something else you would rather spend that money on?

Natalie Brooks, the Trust’s new tobacco dependency specialist advisor, said: “Smoking is recognised as a disease, not just a poor lifestyle choice.

“Our service is on hand to help our in-patients tackle their nicotene withdrawals or embark on a quit attempt with specialist support from highly trained staff, smokefree champions on the wards and nicotene replacement therapy.

“Having worked in addiction services all of my nursing career, I’ve seen many success stories of people kicking their habits. For a lot of people, the cost of smoking is a huge motivator as well as improving their health and that of their families.

“The GetMeSmokeFree app can help you to calculate just how much you could save daily and offers 24/7 support and tips on cravings and triggers.”

Any Trust colleague who smokes and would like help to quit, can now also claim a 12-week supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or a refillable e-cigarette package and behavioural support completely free of charge.

To claim your free NRT and e-cigarettes:

Email: ghnt.smokefreestaff@nhs.net OR text: 07980 969 259

Funding for the support scheme and the new Trust tobacco dependency treatment service has been awarded to the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

For an idea on how much your habit may be costing you, visit:

• www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/why-youshould-quit/how-much-will-you-save

• www.GetMeSmokeFree.com

Porter Dan decides it’s time to quit for good...

Daniel Hawkes, who joined our portering team just a few short months ago, has enrolled himself on a 12-week course to help him quit smoking.

When asked why he decided to take the step to seek support he told us: “I have been smoking a number of years and think it’s time I try and stop for good.

“I have tried to quit in the past, and tried alternative methods but I have never managed to stay on track and I’m really hoping the team can support me to succeed this time.

“There are many benefits to quitting, I want to be fitter, save money and most importantly be a better role model for my children. Changing my career to work in a hospital setting has also made me realise how important health is and the impact smoking can have.”

If you need help to stop smoking contact the specialised stop smoking service: www.nth.nhs.uk/stopsmoking