The life of a Stop Smoking Advisor

Paul, who works at Leeds Teaching Hospital,
tests his carbon monoxide levels at a recent
Stoptober event the team held at the hospital. 

When I tell people I'm a Stop Smoking Advisor, they tend to react in one of three ways: firstly, surprise and interest; secondly 'So you're the sergeant major?'; thirdly, 'What a waste of time that is. People should just stop!'.  The first is very gratifying, the second slightly irritating and the third highly annoying.

People are often surprised. It is a different kind of job, helping smokers to disentangle themselves from a substance at least as addictive as heroin that they have unintentionally, and quite legally, woven into a poisonous web that affects the very fabric of their lives.

The fact is - it's a fascinating job.  I meet people of every age, educational background and culture.  I see some of them struggle against enormous odds to get rid of the habit that is literally trying to kill them.  There are individuals who find it incredibly easy to stop smoking and wish they'd done it two decades sooner, and those who simply can't imagine a life without cigarettes.  It never ceases to amaze me is the sheer guts and determination of so many people to set themselves free from their addiction.  Not everyone succeeds, but many do.  And when they turn the corner, perhaps after numerous attempts, their pride in their achievement is a joy to see.  For some, even people in their 50s and 60s, the simple congratulatory document that we present to them is the first certificate of any kind that they have ever received.

In future blog posts,  I hope to give a flavour of what our day-to-day work entails.  No two days are ever the same.

Smokers who come to sessions run by the Stop Smoking Service are 4 times more likely to quit cigarettes for good than if they try to do it on their own.  We also help people to stop using other forms of tobacco such as smokeless (chewing) tobacco like paan and gutkha, and shisha (waterpipe).

We are a team of friendly, experienced proffessionals who are here to help people give up tobacco.  Together with the Healthy Lifestyle Service, we currently run 46 weekly Stop Smoking sessions around Leeds.

To access support, or for more information, ring Leeds NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0800 169 4219 or check out  your nearest clinic here.  At some clinics no apointment is needed, you can just come along.

Dot Read
Stop Smoking Advisor

Stoptober starts in September

Maree at the Leeds Market drop in clinic

I’m Maree and I am a Smoking Cessation Practitioner with Leeds Stop Smoking Service. I joined the team in February. Our service is city wide and we provide 1 to 1 sessions, drop ins and groups. Most of my clinics are in West Leeds, namely Armley, Bramley, Pudsey and Wortley but I also do a drop in clinic in Kirkgate Market (Leeds city centre market) on a Friday morning. More details about the drop in here.

We provide help and support to those who want to stop smoking and we can help our clients to access the treatments they need to help them stop. Research has shown that using NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) or one of the pharmacological aids (champix or zyban) plus the help of the NHS, people are four times more likely to stop smoking than if they were to go alone.

The team supports the national stop smoking month long campaign, known as Stoptober. The campaign begins on the 1st October and runs for the whole month. Even though it’s only September, we’re already getting prepared. The team will be on the Jubilee Wing at Leeds General Infirmary between 1pm and 4pm on Monday 15 September and the Gledhow Wing at St James Hospital between 9.30am and 2.30pm on Friday 19 September. You might think we’re got our months confused but we want to get people interested and motivated in advance so that they are up and running for the start of Stoptober. We'll be there to give advice but people can also begin the course there and then and access the treatment. 
  
As well as these events, we’ll be putting up displays across our clinic sites. The very helpful lady on the community reception at Thornton Medical Practice, has kindly said she would like to arrange a display on one of her notice boards, solely to promote stop smoking and Stoptopber. So I am really excited about that and I am going to rustle up some resources for her to get her notice board all swanky. When she has done it, we’ll post some photo’s on the trust’s facebook page.  

Maree Diamond, Stop Smoking Practitioner