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Kick the habit and save a packet
Next Wednesday marks national No Smoking Day and with the credit crunch biting Derbyshire County PCT is using this year's campaign to urge people to quit and be quids in.
Health chiefs claim kicking the habit could save smokers a packet with anyone giving up a 20-a-day fix saving almost 2,000 a year.
Here the Derbyshire Times looks at what the PCT can do to help smokers wanting to quit for good and looks at some local success stories.
THOUSANDS of smokers across Derbyshire are being called on to quit the habit and 'save a packet' ahead of next week's national No Smoking Day.
As part of the official day on Wednesday, Derbyshire Action on Smoking is urging people to save hundreds of pounds by giving up cigarettes.
Tina Jones, co-ordinator for Derbyshire Action on Smoking based at Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust, said: "Giving up smoking can save you a lot of money and could help your family to see out the credit crunch. Anyone giving up a 20-a-day habit will be giving themselves the equivalent of a 160 a month pay rise."
Last year, 5,766 smokers in the county quit with the help of the trust and thousands more are being urged to join the growing number of non-smokers.
One local couple took up the challenge with Derbyshire PCT's stop smoking service to kick the habit after Christmas.
Claire and Mark Khan, both 28, of Lumsdale Crescent, Matlock, have now saved up almost enough cash to take their three children on holiday.
Claire said four-year-old Kelsey, seven-year-old Corey and Brandon (ten), were excited about going away.
She said: "We put so much in a tub and we've nearly got the price of a holiday already – that's in six weeks. The kids are looking through the holiday brochures and they want to go to a play holiday park so we've just let them pick."
The pair managed to give up using the help of a successful walk-in clinic in Matlock.
Claire, who has been using the patches and an inhalator, said: "I've stopped. I'd been smoking since I was 12 or 13 and the service has just been brilliant.
"My mum said she could smell that I'm a non-smoker and I can walk up the hill and not get out of breath!
"My kids have been a real motivation for me. When they tell me they are proud of me just before they go to sleep it means a lot."
To celebrate No Smoking Day 2009, Derbyshire Action on Smoking will be helping to organise a fun day to show people where to get support and how stopping smoking can change their lives.
The event at Staveley Community Fire Station, on Saturday, from 11am until 3pm, will have games for children, performances by a theatre company and advice and information for adults.
Tina Jones added: "We want to celebrate with those people who have successfully stopped smoking and encourage anyone who wants to know more about the benefits of giving up smoking, where they can get support, how to save cash and how to access nicotine replacement therapies to come along and talk to us."
For more information on giving up call 0800 085 2299 or visit www.derbyshirecountystopsmoking service.nhs.uk
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO QUIT SAYS 84-YEAR-OLD
A determined 84-year-old has decided to prove 'it's never too late' to quit smoking after 70 years as a smoker.
Mervyn Fielding of Duke Field, Middleton, put out her final cigarette in December after trouble with her breathing.
The mum-of-three, grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of ten, has smoked more than 200,000 cigarettes in her lifetime.
But ahead of No Smoking Day 2009, on Wednesday, Mervyn is helping to spread the message that anyone can do it, regardless of age.
Despite having tried to quit just once before she has now been without a cigarette for more than two months.
With the help of nicotine patches, she is on the road to success and says she feels much better.
Mervyn, who has been using the help of Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust's stop smoking advisor Carol Wynn, said: "It was 1939 when I started smoking — when the Second World War broke out. My father died and I don't know if that was the reason but everyone smoked at that time. There were no warnings about your health. We used to buy cigarettes the same colour as your outfit when you went out.
"I never wanted to give up but I think it's starting to worry me now so I'm going to give up this time.
"I was wheezing and I asked the doctor for an inhaler but he said not until I had given up smoking and it became my challenge to give up. I said no at first but then I said I'd need some help and now I've got Carol."
For the last eight weeks, Carol has been supporting Mervyn once a week for half an hour, talking through the benefits of giving up, discussing issues and problems around smoking, the mental and physical addiction and handing down support.
Carol sees people in group sessions and one-to ones for the first four weeks and then tailors the quitting plan to their needs.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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