Hospital’s help to kick the habit
HEALTH CHIEFS IN SOUTH TYNESIDE AND SUNDERLAND BACK ‘STOPTOBER’ BID TO REDUCE SMOKING
Health bosses are supporting Stoptober – by reinforcing their commitment to becoming “smoke-free” organisations.
South Tyneside and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trusts say the move is in the interests of the health of patients, staff and the local community.
Tobacco use remains the single largest cause of health problems and premature death, with 18.7 per cent of adults in the North East still smoking.
For every death caused by smoking, about 20 smokers are suffering from a smokingrelated disease.
Both South Tyneside and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trusts, which together employ more than 10,000 NHS staff, are reminding employees that smoking is not permitted at work, as both organisations work towards becoming completely smoke free in future.
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Medical Director Dr Shaz Wahid said: “Reducing smoking rates is a vital element of building a healthier society.
“Many people are in hos- pital because of smokingrelated illness and if they continue to smoke it’s likely they will take longer to recover there will be serious implications for their longterm health and wellbeing.
Any patient who is motivated to quit smoking can be referred into local public health stop smoking services and in-patients can be offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
For free advice in South Tyneside, call 0191 4247300 or go to www.change4lifesouthtyneside.co.uk.
For free advice in Sunderland, call 0800 107 0741 or 0191 5653482 or go to www. livelifewell.org.uk.