Throughout Stoptober, our coaches are encouraging people to seek support to stop smoking in time for Christmas.

With FREE professional support from your local stop smoking service, you're four times more likely to quit compared with people who try to quit on their own.

Our trained coaches are holding events across the county with information about stopping smoking throughout October. The events kicked off with a Christmas themed promotion for staff and members of the public at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, with support from the hospital’s health and wellbeing practitioners.

John Russell, Director of Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire said:

“75% of people who’ve used our service have become smoke free and it’s never too late to decide to stop smoking.

“Our healthy lifestyles coaches provide free support over 12 weeks which can include free or low-cost nicotine replacement therapy. They understand what it’s like to stop smoking and are there every step of the way to give people the help and support they need to succeed.

“Nicotine Replacement Therapy is a licensed medicine that can help people manage cravings while they quit smoking. There’s a choice of NRT products such as gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, inhalators and e-cigarettes and our coaches will advise clients on the most suitable product for them.”

Annabelle Bell (pictured right with her coach Alice, left), a mum from Stroud who smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 33 years, successfully quit in April this year with support from the service. Annabelle’s nine-year-old son Tom’s wish came true when he threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome and wished that his mum would quit smoking.

Annabelle said:

“My beautiful son Tom wished that Mum would ‘last’ and give up smoking. He could have wished for anything but that’s what he wished for and that’s what made me do it.

“Stopping smoking has changed my life. I just wish I had done it years ago! I'm saving a fortune which I'm putting towards a holiday with my lovely son."

Last year, Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire helped over 740 people stop smoking, including more than 100 pregnant women.

Cllr Tim Harman, cabinet member for public health & communities at Gloucestershire County Council said:

“Since January 2017, the Healthy Lifestyles Service has supported over 1,500 adults across Gloucestershire to stop smoking. We are making great progress towards becoming a healthier and smoke free Gloucestershire.”

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and our healthy lifestyles service is free, friendly and here for anyone who wants to quit smoking.”

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Deborah Lee said:

“As an NHS organisation, we are absolutely committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients. Smoking is an important contributory factor in a range of diseases, including heart disease, respiratory disease and a number of cancers.

“We work alongside our staff and our 2020 Staff Advice and Support Hub to highlight the support that is available to help staff or patients who are smokers to manage their habit or to quit through referrals to the Healthy Lifestyles Service for support. Our patients can also be prescribed nicotine replacement therapy to help them manage their cravings during their hospital stay”.

For free support to stop smoking call us on freephone 0800 122 3788 today.