Smokers urged to join Stoptober campaign

SMOKERS  in the Yeovil area are being encouraged to take part in the first ever mass quit attempt launched by the Department of Health to be known as Stoptober.
 
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of premature death and each year accounts for over 100,000 deaths in the UK. One in two long-term smokers will die prematurely from a smoking disease.

It has been proven that if you can stop smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stay smoke free. Stoptober will lead smokers through a step-by-step programme to help them achieve this goal.
 
The new campaign includes a preparation pack, 28-day quit calendar and a health and wealth wheel. Smokers will also receive support and encouragement through a daily messaging service, inspiration from celebrity mentors and expert advice via a smartphone app, motivational text messages and a Facebook page.

Yeovil District Hospital is supporting this brand new stop smoking campaign in a bid to get people to quit and improve the health of some of its patients.

Smoking can increase the risk of wound infections, complications, prolonged length of stay and readmission.  If anyone is coming into hospital for an operation they are strongly advised to discuss how to stop, or reduce, smoking during the period leading up to their stay with their GP or a member of hospital staff.

Whilst in hospital patients are asked if they smoke; patients who do smoke are offered advice and support and may be prescribed nicotine replacement products such as patches or lozenges to help them manage without smoking during their stay.

Those patients that do wish to stop are referred to their local NHS Stop Smoking Service following their discharge to ensure continued support.

Patients attending the hospital for outpatient appointments or day surgery may wish to buy nicotine replacement products before they arrive.

Yeovil District Hospital is urging smokers to join in Stoptober which kicked off today (Monday, October 1, 2012). For more information and to join the biggest stop smoking challenge of its kind visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober. Local support is available from www.somersetstopsmoking.nhs.uk.

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