Wandsworth Council is raising awareness of their local Stop Smoking service to encourage smokers to get advice and support on how to quit.
Wandsworth Council has taken several measures to reduce the amount of smokers in the borough and raise awareness of the health benefits that come with giving up smoking, most notably through their ‘Stop Smoking’ service.
The ‘Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service’ offers free consultations with a stop smoking specialist, and access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and other stop-smoking medications to all smokers who live or work in the Wandsworth area.
Advice given by the service includes tips on managing withdrawal symptoms and coping with smoking triggers.
Furthermore, the Stop Smoking services offer drop-in support centres three days a week.
People can visit the drop-in centres in two hospitals in the borough. These locations are the cardiology unit at St Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton, and St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
Given the ongoing month of ‘Stoptober’, the council is particularly looking to raise awareness about the stop smoking services available for people in the borough.
Wandsworth Council said: “During October, Wandsworth Council’s Health Bus will be providing supportive information about smoking, vaping, and how to quit, as well as general advice on how to stay healthy.”
People in Wandsworth can visit the health bus and chat with experienced stop-smoking advisors and local health professionals on Friday 27 October from 11.30am to 5pm, at Tooting Market.
The supportive Wandsworth Health Bus is part of their ‘Come and have a chat about your health’ campaign, as they want to offer practical advice for people’s needs in the borough.
The council said: “If you don’t smoke but would like general information about their health and wellbeing, a health professional will be on hand to offer tips on staying healthy as well as a blood pressure check.”
As of 2019-20, around 37,000 adults, or 15% of Wandsworth’s adult population, were smokers.
Between 2016 and 2018, it is estimated that 687 Wandsworth residents died from a smoking related death, and between 2017 and 2018, there were over 1,500 smoking related hospital admissions in the borough.
Despite Wandsworth having smoking levels below the London and England average, the council still makes cutting these numbers a priority.
Wandsworth Council says that someone is four times more likely to stop smoking for good if they use a local stop smoking service to advise them and offer regular support and information.
You can contact the Wandsworth Stop Smoking Team on 0800 389 7921, or email them: [email protected].
Featured image credit: Wandsworth Council
