AS No Smoking Day gets underway today (14th March), NHS Lothian is supporting the
NSD awareness campaign by targeting smoking in Lothian.
Says a spokesperson: “There are more than 1,500 deaths in Lothian each year that can be attributed to smoking, with research showing that just one per cent reduction in the number of Lothian smokers would lead to the prevention of an estimated 53 deaths in the region every
year.
“Since the introduction of the public smoking ban last March, NHS Lothian has
increased its stop smoking specialist adviser capacity and its efforts to support
smokers who want to give up smoking by offering a wide range of stop smoking
services run by trained and experienced stop smoking facilitators.
“Services are available throughout the Lothians and the city of Edinburgh,. Many of
these Stop Smoking groups are based in community centres, health centres, the LGBT
Centre for health and Wellbeing, and pharmacies. Services are also available for
pregnant women across Lothian and for young people in Edinburgh and West Lothian.”
Aisling Murphy has recently been appointed as NHS Lothian senior health promotion
specialist for tobacco and is co-ordinating this year’s No Smoking Day activities
and resources.
“There are a number of activities going on, for example we are placing a number of
No Smoking Day stands throughout Edinburgh which will offer advice on giving up
smoking. The stands will be situated in the NHS Lothian Lauriston Building, Leith
Victoria Swim Centre and also in the Asda supermarket at the Jewel. All the stands
will be staffed by employees, volunteers or NHS stop smoking advisers.
“We are also running a schools competition pan Lothian with the aim of raising
smoking awareness among young people starting secondary school. The competition is
for first year secondary school students to create a project of their choice
relating to No Smoking Day. Fifteen schools have entered the competition and the entries
will be assessed by the NHS Lothian Health Promotion Services. The top three project
will be awarded prizes.”
Fiona Moore, NHS Lothian smoking cessation co-ordinator, said: “No Smoking Day is a
great incentive for smokers to quit and there are plenty of ideas available on how
people can achieve this. It also gives NHS Lothian an opportunity to remind people where they can receive help and support services in Lothian, and the good news is there are currently no
waiting lists for this service.”
No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness campaign in the UK.
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Contact: Isla Mair
Phone: 0131 536 9355
Website: http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
