Give up smoking now and ‘save up to £4,000 by next Christmas’

NHS Tayside is encouraging smokers to stub out smoking for good in the new year.

The health board says festive quitters could save up to £4,000 by next Christmas.

Community pharmacies in Tayside can offer advice and support to anybody who would like to quit and work with smokers to improve their health. Two incentive schemes are also available for people to join in Tayside, which provide free nicotine products, support from their community pharmacy and £12.50 per week if they remain smoke free.

Smokers can ask at their local community pharmacy to find out whether they are eligible for the quit4U scheme or, if pregnant, the Give it Up for Baby scheme.

Anyone who wants to stop smoking can visit any local community pharmacy or call NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services on 0845 600 9996 to find out more.

You can also follow www. facebook.com/nhstaysidesmokefree.

Andrew Radley, consultant in public health for NHS Tayside, said: “Stopping smoking can not only reduce the risk to your health, but it can also improve breathing, circulation and energy levels.

“If you are on medication, giving up using tobacco can make medication more effective in treating your condition in most cases.

“Stopping smoking is the single most important lifestyle decision that anyone can make to improve their health immediately.

“Smoking is a serious issue which causes 13,000 deaths and 56,000 hospital admissions a year in Scotland which could be quickly reduced by people choosing not to use tobacco.”