On Wednesday 8 March thousands of smokers were encouraged to quit tobacco for good during the annual No Smoking Day.

Around 6 million people in the UK smoke, while around 80,000 die every year from smoking-related causes. That’s 80,000 too many.

St. George’s Tobacco Dependence team were on hand in the hospital’s main entrance to offer advice and support to staff and visitors.

Lots of people came over to talk to the team about the benefits of quitting and to receive advice and information on services available locally and within the Trust.

Frederica Agbah, the Trust’s Smoking Cessation Practitioner, said:

“No Smoking Day provides the perfect opportunity for smokers to join thousands of others in the UK attempting to quit on the same day. This is why our efforts to spread the word about the support available are so important, to help people to take their first steps towards a healthier and wealthier, smokefree life.”

The Tobacco Dependence Service here at St George’s offers:

  • Help to tailor a personal support plan
  • Access to nicotine replacement therapy or drug pharmacotherapy such as Champix and Zyban
  • Expert advice on vaping and the best type of electronic nicotine delivery devices (vapes), to use
  • Access to telephone and face to face drop-in clinics.

If you would like advice on quitting, you can contact the team – Frederica Agbah or Marie Halpin on 020 8725 4234 or email smokingcessation@stgeorges.nhs.uk.

Alternatively:

Visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ to find out where you can get free access to the latest quitting aids, apps, information, one-to-one advice, and local support.