Individual Post

POSTED By : DESTINATION NEWRY
Post Date : 09 Mar 2017 11:10 AM
Southern Trust Celebrates One Year Smoke Free

The Southern Trust is ‘Proud to be a Quitter’ as it celebrates one year Smoke Free this No Smoking Day (8 March 2017). 

 
Patients, visitors and Trust employees are reaping the benefits of a healthier, cleaner and more pleasant environment since the implementation of the Smoke Free Health & Social Care Sites policy on 9 March 2016.
 
Roberta Brownlee, Southern Trust Chair said: 
“We are extremely proud to have reached this key milestone of being one year Smoke Free.  It is brilliant to see the high rate of compliance and support we have received.”
 
“As a health and social care service we have an important role as an example and advocate for this environmental change. Our patients, management, staff and visitors are to be commended for their tremendous efforts throughout the challenges that they have faced and continue to face in reaching a Smoke free environment.”
 
Since the Southern Trust became Smoke free in March 2016, approximately 1200 people have availed of the support and advice from the Trust’s Stop Smoking Service and over 750 people have successfully quit. 
 
A recent survey undertaken by the Trust has highlighted that awareness of the Smoke Free Sites policy is high with 99.6% of 810 people aware that the Policy is in place.
 
Lynne Smart, Southern Trust’s Head of Health Improvement (Acting) said: 
“By creating a Smoke free environment and providing stop smoking support services, we are enabling smokers to have the best possible chance of quitting.”
 
“This year’s No Smoking Day message is about being ‘Proud to be a Quitter’ which is set to inspire smokers to use No Smoking Day as the day they pledge to stop smoking. The Trust’s Stop Smoking Service has developed effective evidence-based services for people who wish to stop smoking and we would encourage anyone who wishes to take the first steps towards a healthier, Smoke free life for themselves and their families, to avail of our services.”
 
Free help and support is available to smokers across the Southern Trust area from:
  • The Southern Trust Stop Smoking Team Click here for Clinic Timetable To make an appointment with the team contact: 028 3741 5333 or email: stop.smoking@southerntrust.hscni.net 
  • Pharmacies 
  • GP services
The help provided through these specialist services can improve the chance of stopping successfully by up to four times compared to a smoker trying to quit on their own.