Local charity find more ways to quit with pharmacy.

Encouraging findings from the Ulster Cancer Foundation have suggested that the majority of smokers not only want to quit, but are turning to more varied and comprehensive ways of kicking the habit than ever before. The charity’s Stop Smoking Clinics have stepped up their service provision to better meet the increasing demand for smoking cessation and pharmacy’s input has been instrumental in supporting this.

Gerry McElwee, the charity’s head of cancer prevention added that pharmacy expertise is core to the success of these services. “Stop smoking support is offered by a range of professionals including the dedicated Regional Pharmacy Scheme which offers twelve weeks support to the smoker; GP practices, Trust staff and community facilitators across a range of venues,” he told NIPinF. “All of these services offer specialist provision with pharmacotherapy which will help smokers to quit. The support is available in many local communities and this range offers great choice for any smoker who wishes to quit.”

Research by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency shows that while 24% of local people smoke, three quarters of them would like to give up and UCF services are well placed to help meet this demand.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, 743 people attended UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinics with a 53.4 per cent quit rate at 4 weeks – well above the NICE recommended 35 per cent quit rate guidelines. For more information about your community’s nearest clinic or to signpost patients to the UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinics, contact Bernie Neeson at UCF on 028 9066 3281 or log onto www.ulstercancer.org.