New Help2Quit clinic opens in Church Stretton

A person breaking a cigarette in half

A new Help2Quit Clinic is being launched at the new Health and wellbeing centre, in Church Stretton on Wednesday 28 September.

The opening marks the national Stoptober campaign which encourages people to kick the habit by taking up the 28 day challenge, starting from the 1 October.

Members of the public, in particularly those who wish to give up smoking, are invited to come to the event between 9am and 3pm.  Smokers will be able to get a carbon monoxide reading and find out more about the support available to help them quit. You will also be able to book an appointment.

The new Help2Quit clinic starts on Wednesday 5 October from 9am to 12pm in the Health and Wellbeing centre. Late appointments to suit those that work, will also be run at the Mayfair Centre between 5pm and 7pm.

Help2Change’s stop smoking service Help2Quit provides a stop smoking service for smokers at a range of venues across Shropshire. The service is free and run by stop smoking specialists – including practice nurses, midwives, pharmacists and school nurses – who provide smokers with tailored advice and hints and tips on how to quit.

The service is available in almost all GP surgeries in Shropshire and is also provided in many pharmacies, community venues, hospitals and selected supermarkets.

Help2Quit has been helping people to quit smoking over the last 20 years and has seen over 85,000 clients in that time. Last year over 1,000 people in Shropshire signed up to Stoptober, and recent figures released show that the smoking rate across the county has fallen to 14.6%, the lowest figure ever recorded.

Councillor Karen Calder Cabinet Member for Health and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing board said;

“I am really pleased we will now be able to support residents in Church Stretton and surrounding area to quit smoking.

“Research shows you are four times more likely to give up with support, so it’s important that as many people as possible can access a local clinic.

“Our Help2Quit service is free, friendly and confidential and has already proved highly successful in helping hundreds of Shropshire people quit smoking for good.”

For more information about Shropshire’s Help2Quit Service visit http://www.healthyshropshire.co.uk/topics/stop-smoking/quit-smoking/support/

To make an appointment call 03456 789 025 or e-mail information@help2changeshropshire.nhs.uk.

For more information and to sign up to Stoptober’s 28-day challenge visit http://po.st/Stop16_Shropshire