Join the health forces this Stoptober

September 23, 2018 by Southend Borough Council

For details on all the Stoptober/Stop Smoking Service events, please see Public Health Southend’s Facebook page.

Public Health Southend’s stop smoking service is joining forces with Southend University Hospital to launch the national Stoptober campaign with local initiatives for 2018.

Despite smoking prevalence in Southend being at an all-time low, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Public Health team are continuing their work, striding towards their vision of a smoke-free Southend.

The public is invited to come along to a host of local activities throughout October to gain help and advice on stopping smoking for good.

Aligning with the national Stoptober campaign, the first of these events will be held on 1 October 2018 at Southend University Hospital. With the support of the hospital’s occupational health team and specialist nurses, we will be on hand to give advice and to find the best techniques and tools to help individuals quit for good, be it the use of vaping, patches, the Stoptober app, or other aids.

Councillor Lesley Salter, cabinet member for healthy communities and wellbeing said, “There is good evidence to show that enlisting support through friends, family, health professionals, and tools such as nicotine replacement therapies, makes you four times more likely to quit permanently.  We are proud of Southend’s stop smoking service, and indeed all our local healthcare professionals, for their contribution to the lowest ever level of smoking that we see today. We urge anyone considering quitting to take the plunge, and to contact our stop smoking service on 01702 212000, which is free, friendly and supportive. We are determined to see our vision of a smoke-free Southend as soon as we can and would like to give anyone making the decision to quit smoking a huge, supportive pat on the back.”

Yvonne Blücher, Managing Director of Southend University Hospital, said, “We’re pleased to be joining forces with our colleagues at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to mark the start of Stoptober and raise awareness of the support available to help our staff, visitors and members of the public stop smoking for good. I’m thrilled that the Make Southend Sparkle team are joining us with a team of volunteers who will be litter-picking at our hospital entrances.

“This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to helping improve both the health of our staff and local community, and the quality of our environment.”