News

Jul 14, 2010

Join 4,000 people who quit smoking in Devon last year

Public health bosses in Devon are reminding people that help to quit smoking is available in a town near them. 

Last year 4,000 people in the county successfully stopped smoking after getting help from NHS Devon.

 
There are currently 15 weekly stop smoking clinics in south and west Devon, run by advisors Shelley Denison, Afira Memon and Charlotte Rolls. 

The clinics aim to help people stop smoking with support and advice from specialists and through a range of techniques including nicotine replacement therapy. 

Dr Virginia Pearson, NHS Devon's director of public health, recommended getting NHS help to stop smoking. 

"Research shows you are up to four times more likely to stop smoking successfully if you get support from the NHS rather than relying on will power alone," she said. 

"Anyone over 16 is welcome to come along to one of our clinics where they will be able to get free support from a friendly advisor.  

"You do not have to be ready to stop there and then as specialist advisors will find the best way to help you quit. 

"Almost half of smokers will die earlier than expected from cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema or other tobacco-related disease and smoking during pregnancy is estimated to contribute to 40 per cent of all infant deaths." 

NHS Devon's free stop smoking service is available at most Devon towns. Contact the service on stopsmoking.devonpct@nhs.net or call 01884 836 024.  

A full clinic list for south and west Devon is below: 

Mon (12pm - 3pm): Newton Abbot hospital
Mon (4pm - 7pm): Buckland Medical Centre
Mon (5pm - 7pm): Totnes hospital
Tue (10am - 11:40am): Okehampton hospital
Wed (10:30am - 12:30pm): Dartmouth hospital
Wed (4pm - 7pm): Newton Abbot hospital Thu (4pm - 7pm): Teignmouth hospital
Thu (5pm - 7pm): Watermark Centre, Ivybridge
Fri (1:30pm - 4:30pm): Tavistock Clinic  

Starting Thursday 29 July: 

Thu (9am - 12pm): Newton Abbot hospital