HSE will have quit smoking information stands in Clonmel on World No Tobacco Day

The HSE will have information stands on quitting smoking at Tipperary University Hospital and at a mobile unit at St Luke's Hospital in Clonmel tomorrow (Wednesday, May 31) for World No Tobacco Day. 

HSE/South East Community Healthcare (SECH)  is encouraging all that smoke to use World No Tobacco Day as their opportunity to quit or begin the process of quitting.

The HSE Health and Wellbeing division, through the dedicated Health Promotion and Improvement team, are promoting the many free supports that are available to people in county Tipperary to quit smoking 

These free supports include one to one behavioural support by trained stop smoking advisers to help people to quit and stay quit.

The service aims to help people to reach 28 days smoke free, at which stage they are five times more likely to stay quit for good. Trained Stop Smoking Advisors support individuals with changing behaviours, setting quit dates and dealing with cravings and withdrawals.

A carbon monoxide monitor is used to track the improvement of the levels of carbon   monoxide in the lungs and to validate their progress along the journey, which has proven to be an exceptionally useful tool to help people quit.

Support is also provided through face to face appointments or over the phone with friendly, non-judgemental and trained Stop Smoking Advisors.

Since the establishment of a number of new clinics county wide in Wexford in January, there has been a significant uptake in the service. A total of 29% of current smokers are either trying to quit or actively planning to do so.. Meanwhile, 46% of those who smoked in the previous year have tried to guit and 73% of these have successfully quit (Healthy Ireland 2022).

Supported by the government’s Sláintecare strategy for its aims of integrating hospital and primary care services, the “Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit” also operates as a free, dedicated support for pregnant women and their families.

The programme takes referrals of pregnant women (in addition to partners and family members) from the four maternity departments in the South East (University Hospital Waterford, Wexford General Hospital, St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny and Tipperary University Hospital) and from primary care/community services throughout the region.

No matter what stage you or your partner are at in your pregnancy, the HSE says it is never too late to stop smoking. You will get the support you need and not be judged. Ask your midwife, GP, healthcare provider or practice nurse to refer yourself to this programme.

Other smoking cessation supports include the “We Can Quit” programme which is delivered as part of the Slaintecare Healthy Communities initiatives in Clonmel, Waterford and Wexford and is available to both individuals as well as in group support. The “We Can Quit” programme is an evidence based stop smoking programme, designed to be delivered in the community by trained Community Facilitators through group work. We Can QUIT is a free, friendly and supportive group programme for men and women who smoke and who want support to quit smoking. The programme offers a weekly stop smoking group and 1-to-1 support. The programme is offered by the HSE in partnership with local community organisations.

Advisors are also attached to SECH Chronic Disease Hub teams and focus on providing support to people with any of the four major chronic diseases; Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic  Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Asthma and Type 2 Diabetes.

Ireland now has more quitters than smokers, 27% of the Irish population are ex-smokers and in all age groups over the age of 35, there are more ex-smokers than current smokers. People who have quit smoking have experienced the benefits first hand by reaching out for the dedicated support to quit being offered by the HSE Health and Wellbeing department. One successful person reported “After quitting smoking for a month, I was able to insure the car with the savings!” whilst another stated “I’m a month off the smokes now. I was always checking for where I can go for a smoke, I feel like I’ve gotten my life back and it feels great!”

Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health, and if you would like to get started on your Quit journey you can contact your local  Stop Smoking Adviser  and be directed to your nearest Clinic by emailing southeaststopsmokingsupport@hse.ie or calling 1800 201 203

HSE/South East Community Healthcare “Quit” Information Stands for World Tobacco Day (Wednesday 31^st May) will be available at Tipperary University Hospital, Western Road in Clonmel from 10am to 12pm and at a HSE mobile unit at St Luke's Hospital also on Clonmel's Western Road from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.