Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex University Hospitals helping smokers to quit on No Smoking Day

Local smokers are being urged to take the first step in giving up cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day which takes place next week on Wednesday 9 March.

While studies show that two-thirds of smokers want to quit (1), nearly one in five UK adults continue to smoke, including 12% in Hounslow and 19% in Kensington and Chelsea (2).

For the second year running the No Smoking Day theme is ‘Proud to be a Quitter’. In life we’re told never to give up but when it comes to smoking, being a ‘Quitter’ is a good thing. The campaign is using inspirational stories of ex-smokers to highlight the life-changing benefits of quitting, such as Jose who says: “Giving up smoking was like giving myself a pay rise”.

West Middlesex University Hospital’s Stop Smoking Service will be holding a road show for patients, staff and visitors on No Smoking Day to help smokers make this the day you start to stop.

Eva Gates, Stop Smoking Specialist at West Middlesex said: “We understand that the majority of smokers want to stop smoking, but many find the task too daunting. No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity to inspire smokers to quit for good.

“With support, smokers are more likely to succeed in their quit attempt. That is why West Middlesex Hospital will be out in force on No Smoking Day, educating smokers on the range of local services and resources available to them.”

The road show will be held from 11am until 3pm in the hospital atrium where specialist help and support will be available. In addition to this, Eva runs the in-house Stop Smoking Service together with the weekly walk-in clinic every Wednesday from 4.45pm – 5.45pm in OPD2, Chest Clinic. All are welcome and there is no need to book an appointment.

The annual No Smoking Day campaign is run by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and encourages hundreds of thousands of smokers to make a quit attempt on No Smoking Day, using inspirational stories of ex-smokers to highlight the life-changing benefits of quitting.

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said: “Giving up smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health, and that’s why the British Heart Foundation runs No Smoking Day. We’re encouraging smokers to mark Wednesday 11 March in their calendars and take the first step towards a smoke-free life.”

To receive information and support on stopping smoking visit nosmokingday.org.uk and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NoSmokingDay. For help and more information, you can call West Middlesex Hospital on 020 8321 5188 or Hounslow Stop Smoking Service on 020 8630 3255. You can also text 07860 026618, email stop.smoking@hrch.nhs.uk or tweet @Hounslow_SSS.