Have you pledged to give up smoking in 2024? Free local support is available.
If you live or work in Bath and North East Somerset or your GP is based in BANES you can be referred to the Community Wellbeing Hub. One of the experienced and friendly advisors from their Specialist Stop Smoking team will offer you a package of help to quit. This includes six appointments providing behavioural support which can be delivered face to face, by telephone or video link. This is combined with a prescription of nicotine replacement treatment, for example patches or gum.
You can refer yourself to the Specialist Stop Smoking team by contacting the Community Wellbeing Hub on 0300 2470050 or BATHNES.thehub@hcrgcaregroup.com. Or ask a health professional, such as your doctor or health visitor, to refer you.
The service also offers free vape starter kits to enable smokers to switch from tobacco to vaping. A national Government scheme will extend the offer of free vape kits in 2024 to more smokers with the aim of boosting the number of people who quit.
Across BANES, 11.5% of people currently smoke, compared with 12.7% across the whole of England. Recent evidence indicates that the decades long decline in smoking in England has virtually stopped since the pandemic. While bigger numbers were quitting during the pandemic, this has been counteracted by a rise in young people taking up smoking, particularly 18-24-year-olds.
As well as stopping smoking, the Community Wellbeing Hub offers a wide range of other services, including weight management support, diabetes education, help with mental health and referral to physical activity providers, such as gyms. So if you’ve resolved to improve your wellbeing this year, it’s worth getting in touch.