Record number of Plymouth smokers stub out habit in a year

City health chiefs have urged more people to take advantage of free support available this year.

Deb Lapthorne, NHS Plymouth director of public health, said: "Our stop smoking service continues to help thousands of people rid themselves of a habit that is danger to them and their loved ones.

"Research shows that people are up to four times more likely to stop smoking if they get local NHS support so I'd urge all smokers who want to quit to get in touch with NHS Plymouth's stop smoking service.

"The stop smoking adviser will not judge people or their reasons for smoking but instead will help them to look at why and when they smoke and examine what went wrong with their previous attempts at quitting."

Advisers also help people develop an action plan for quitting and identify a quit date, usually in a week.

"The use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and non-nicotine products with them, including Champix, will be discussed as an option," said Prof Lapthorne.

"All of these therapies will more or less double people's chances of stopping for good - when used according to the instructions.

"But it is important to remember though – these products are not a magic cure and people still have to put a lot of effort into stopping."

Russ Moody, Plymouth NHS Stop Smoking Service manager, said the latest record follows year-on-year rises in the number of local quitters.

He praised The Herald's loveLIFE campaign as another 'string in the bow' in initiatives aimed at helping people give up cigarettes.

He added: "The figures tend to go up every year. As a calendar year, 2011 was the best we've had so far.

"The whole package really helps. I'm fully invested in the loveLIFE campaign. It's absolutely fantastic and another string to our bow which is helping people find out about our service."

The NHS Plymouth stop smoking service has a network of advisers, based across the city who run free advice sessions and can offer practical support and guidance on the best methods for each individual to quit smoking.

Sessions are held in more than 50 locations in Plymouth such as local health centres, GP surgeries, workplaces, libraries and supermarkets.