Stop Smoking

Stop smoking

You're more likely to succeed if you have NHS support

If you smoke, stopping will bring enormous benefits to your health and wellbeing. You’ll dramatically reduce your risk of developing a vascular disease such as heart disease or stroke - and you don’t have to quit smoking by yourself. In fact, you’re four times more likely to succeed if you have support. This is free on the NHS.

At your NHS Health Check, you will have discussed your smoking status with your GP or other health professional. You might have made the commitment to go smokefree.

Stopping smoking isn’t easy but the benefits are huge. You will:

  • Reduce your chance of developing a range of serious diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, lung cancer and other cancers.
  • Enjoy improved breathing and general fitness.
  • Be able to taste food properly again.
  • Reduce the risk of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear.
  • Improve your fertility and chance of a successful pregnancy and healthy baby.
  • Save money.

NHS support

If you’re trying to go smokefree, you’re not alone. NHS support can help you as well as put you in touch with others taking the same journey towards being smokefree. The support comes in many forms: choose the kind that suits you best.

  • Local NHS stop-smoking services. You can meet for individual or group sessions with trained NHS advisers, who can help you to put your stop-smoking plan into action. You can find your local stop-smoking services at the Go Smokefree website (see External links).
  • Support at home. The Together Programme is free, providing you with support at home whenever you need it. When you sign up, you’ll get a mail pack with information, advice and encouragement. This will be followed up by helpful text alerts and emails when you need them. You can even speak direct to trained advisers via the dedicated helpline.
  • Patches, gum, and more. There is a range of nicotine replacement treatments available on prescription that can help you to stop smoking. They don’t contain harmful chemicals or cause cancer and you’ll only pay a standard prescription charge.
  • NHS smoking helpline. This dedicated helpline is staffed by trained advisers who can provide information, support and encouragement while you go smokefree. Phone 0800 022 4 332 (7am to 11pm).

What help is available?

If you are serious about quitting and want help to stop smoking, free and confidential advice and support is available through your local stop smoking services.

Visit your local stop smoking service to register onto the scheme and KICK the habit

Stop Smoking Services involve:

  • Initial motivation and assessment appointment
  • FREE weekly stop smoking programme
  • 12-week programme of medication
  • Advice and motivation from trained advisers
  • Convenient weekly appointments
  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Champix and Zyban (a prescription charge may apply)
  • Weekly carbon monoxide monitoring

You are 4 times more likely to successfully quit, using the service than going it alone

Stop Smoking Services Available:

  • Specialist Level III Service - Free Phone: 0800 169 1943, Email: smokers-clinic@qmul.ac.uk
  • GP Practices in City and Hackney
  • Boots and independent pharmacies in City and Hackney
  • Specialist Pregnancy Service 020 8510 7732
  • Specialist Homerton Hospital Service 020 8510 7248
  • CHYPS – Young People Service 020 8919 5040

For further information, please visit the Smokefree City and Hackney website.