Help me Quit ......
Help Me Quit is ...
- the single point of access for all NHS stop smoking services in Wales, provided face-to-face:
- in groups,
- in local pharmacies,
- in hospitals, or
- over the telephone
- making it easier for smokers to get the best NHS stop smoking support for them.
- recognising that smokers have differing support needs.
Smoking, and quitting
- Smoking remains the single largest cause of preventable ill health in Wales. 19% of Welsh adults smoke.
- Smokers want to stop...64% of smokers want to quit and 44% actively tried last year. (National Survey for Wales).
- Waiting times for cessation support are now less than 7 days (average), and quality of support (quit rates) across all services are consistently in line or above recognised benchmarks.
What advice should we give smokers?
- The best way to quit smoking is with free NHS stop smoking support offered through Help Me Quit.
- NHS stop smoking services offer smokers the greatest chances of success by providing:
- Structured, tailored and expert support
- Carbon monoxide monitoring-for-motivation
- Access to free licensed stop smoking medication
- Smokers are four times more likely to successfully quit smoking with NHS stop smoking support, than going it alone.
Smokers can get support directly by:
- Professionals should refer smokers by:
- Using existing referral routes such as the web-based referral platform: Quit Manager, or telephone Help Me Quit (with client permission): 0800 085 2219
- Using the professional referral short-form: www.helpmequit.wales/professional-referrer/
What else can we do?:
- Display posters and contact-cards (print and/or digital) at your practice.
- Asking about smoking status can trigger a quit attempt, referring increases the likelihood of success.
- Contact helpmequit@wales.nhs.uk for anything cessation related
