Local Health Chiefs Celebrate Gloucestershire's Response to Helping Smokers Give up

31/05/05

'World No Tobacco Day' is celebrated around the world every year on 31st May. It was launched in 1987 by the World Health Organisation to draw attention to the preventable deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use.

The theme of this year's campaign is The Role of Health Professionals in Tobacco Control and the importance of this is recognised by health chiefs throughout the county.

Primary Care Trusts are set targets to ensure that smokers who wish to quit receive the help and advice they need to be successful. This year each of the 3 Gloucestershire Primary Care Trusts have not only met their targets but have exceeded them. Over 6,500 smokers have attended services and over 56% have quit. These services are provided throughout the county in GP surgeries, the workplace, hospitals and community settings.

Kate Gegg from the Gloucestershire Smoking Advice Service said:
"it is fantastic to see that these services have been providing smokers with the help they need to be able to give up. Smoking kills over 320 people every day, in addition to all the problems associated with second hand smoke. Giving up smoking is very difficult but the with right help and support you can double your chance of being successful"

Dr Shona Arora, Director of Public Health, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT, said that "Reducing smoking is the single most beneficial public health measure for a PCT to make. Meeting these targets is only the first step, we must ensure that we build on this success and provide stop smoking services that are easily accessible for all smokers."