Nurses help to stub out smoking

Staff reporter NHS Lanarkshire is helping to train the next generation o f nur s e s o n how t o hel p smokers give up.

St op s moking s pecialist nurses from the health board are providing tobacco training to general and mental health nurses at the University West of Scotland (UWS) to give them insight into nicotine addiction, the health effects of tobacco use, the benefits of stopping, and knowledge of the treatments available to support patients who smoke.

Part of t he training involves introduction to NHS Lanarkshire’s newlydeveloped Management of Nicotine Addiction Integrated Care Pathway ( ICP) which was launched in every acute hospital site in October.

It ensures patients admitted to hospital who smoke are offered treatment for nicotine withdrawal as well as referred to specialist services if they wish to quit.

NHS Lanarkshire Stop S mo k i n g S e r v i c e i s f r e e , friendly and has helped over 17,000 people quit between 2011-2014. For more info call 08452 17 77 07 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or text : ‘Advice’ to 81066.