More using ‘quit smoking’ services than ever

MORE people than ever before are accessing professional services to help them quit smoking, it has been revealed.

Public Health Wales confirmed that a record-breaking 15,599 smokers in Wales used free NHS Help Me Quit services in 2018-19.

That is the fourth consecutive year of growth and an increase of 3,672 smokers when compared with five years ago.

This increase bucks the general UK trend where the number of smokers seeking NHS treatment and support has declined in recent years.

Over the past five years, Help Me Quit has treated a total of 70,796 smokers.

Figures for smoking prevalence in Wales, taken from the National Survey for Wales, also indicate a fall from 19% in 2017-18 to 17% in the most recent survey results released in early August.

Both sets of figures are welcome news for Public Health Wales, which in partnership with the seven Welsh health boards provides free, effective and tailored stop smoking support.

Ashley Gould, consultant in public health and national lead for tobacco control, said: “We’ve been working hard to reach out to smokers and make them more aware of the great NHS Wales services that are available to them, to help them reach their goal of being smokefree.

“Help Me Quit services provide free stop smoking medication and all the hints, tips and support needed to quit, which together have been shown to be the most effective way to quit.

“Therefore it’s hugely pleasing to see that in the last five years over 70,000 people have been treated by Help Me Quit services, which are delivered in workingmen’s clubs, town halls, community pharmacies and hospital settings that are easy to get to.

“Stopping smoking is hard, but it’s often the number one thing smokers can do for their health, their wallets and their loved ones.

“Seven in 10 smokers in Wales want to quit – Help Me Quit is the best way to make that happen.

“The chances of making a successful quit attempt are four times greater with our support than by going it alone.

“This is a message we’re trying to send to the 190,000 smokers in Wales who try to stop every year.

“Many don’t succeed, but the NHS is there to help, providing friendly services through group sessions, one-to-one, or over the telephone. All smokers making a quit attempt also receive up to £250 worth of free stop smoking medication.”

If you are a smoker who wants to quit, search for Help Me Quit online, call 0800 085 2219, or texting HMQ to 80818 and they will call you back.