Stubbing it out
Nurses to help patients kick the habit
NHS Lanarkshire are helping to train the next generation of nurses on how to help smokers give up while in hospital.
Stop smoking specialist nurses from the health board are providing tobacco training to ggeneral and mental health nurses at the University West of Scotland (UWS) to give them insight into nicotine addiction, the illhealth effects of tobacco use, the benefits of stopping, and knowledge of the treatments available to support patients who smoke.
Part of the training involves introduction to NHS Lanarkshire’s newly developed Ma n a gg e me n t o f Ni c o t i n e A d d i c t i o n Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) which was launched in ever y acute hospital site in October.
It ensures patients admitted to hospital who s moke a re of f e re d t re at ment f or ni c o t i ne wi t hdrawal a s wel l a s b e i ng referred to specialist services if they wish to quit.
While helping t o i mprove a patient’s experience while in care, the ICP also helps patients comply with the NHS Lanarkshire No Smoking Policy which prohibits smoking and e-cigarettes on all grounds including entrances and doorways.
A Scottish Government directive means that all heath boards will need to enforce the policy from April 1 this year.
UWS student nurse from Uddingston Yvonne Keys re ceived t rai ning f or t he Stop Smoking Service at Udston Hospital in Hamilton.
She said: “The t obacco t raining and p l a c e me n t w i t h i n t h e s t o p s mok i n g service made us realise how much tobacco use impacts on people’s overall health, recovery, and how every patient should be asked their smoking status in order to offer them treatment and referral to the stop smoking service if they want to quit.
“People who smoke have an addiction l i ke a ny o t her a nd s houl d b e o f f e re d treatment and support even if temporarily while in hospital.”
Fellow student nurse Joanne McFarlane from Airdrie was trained at Coathill Hospital in Coatbridge.
She said “Even temporarily stopping smoking while in hospital can improve p a t i e n t r e c ov e r y , r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f complications and make a patient’s stay in hospital more pleasant.
“We’ve also been told that over 90 per cent of patients said they would feel more at ease coming into hospital knowing there was help available t o t hem and would recommend using services to help smokers. It’s very encouraging when you know so many smokers are willing to embrace this help.”
NHS Lanarkshire Stop Smoking Service is free to anyone who would like support to give up smoking. It is friendly and has helped over 17,000 people quit between 2011 and 2014.
For more information call 08452 17 77 07 (Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm) or text ‘Advice’ to 81066
Those wanting to quit smoking can also visit the website at www.nhslanarkshire. org.guk or www.canstopsmoking.gcom or call Smokeline on 0800 84 84 84 ( 8am10pm seven days) or visit any Lanarkshire pharmacy.