These changes are part of a larger scheme which sees NHS services in Sheffield and Barnsley joining together, after NHS Sheffield appointed Barnsley NHS’ Care Services Direct to manage the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service, from 1st July 2010.

In order to increase the number of smokers that the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service help to quit, NHS Sheffield invited organisations to bid to deliver the service, and appointed Care Services Direct after being impressed by their innovative thinking.

The changes to services will see a new city centre stop smoking shop, the likes of which is already successfully operated in Barnsley. The Sheffield shop, due to open later in the year, will be open six days plus at least one late night each week and offer a no-appointment-necessary drop-in service.

Further changes also include a new nicotine replacement therapy scheme; so that clients attending for stop smoking support in community settings have the option of going straight to their pharmacy for stop smoking medicines, which include patches and gum.

They will also explore opportunities to develop telephone, text and internet based stop smoking support. Support is currently only offered face to face. Also, the use of incentives, such as gym and slimming world vouchers; and having a mobile unit so that the service can go where it is most needed are being considered.

Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health at NHS Sheffield said: “We were delighted to be able to offer Care Services Direct the contract to deliver the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service. Not only did they put in a fantastic bid, it’s also great for the people of South Yorkshire to see NHS organisations from Barnsley and Sheffield working together in this innovative way.

“The existing Stop Smoking Service is very successful and provides a great service to smokers in the city who use it, however, we wanted to develop the service further to increase the number of people using it, and we recognised a number of changes to make the service more flexible, could help ensure that the service meets the modern day needs of people in the city. It’s vital that we do everything we can to help smokers stop, because people who smoke regularly die an average of ten years earlier than those who don’t.”

Sean Rayner, Chief Operating Officer for Care Services Direct said: “We are really pleased to win the stop smoking contract and look forward to working with NHS Sheffield to improve the health of local people, offering services to those that need support to stop smoking.”

The service will continue to support and work in partnership with General Practices, Pharmacies and Dental Practices who also deliver high quality support to help smokers to quit. NHS

Sheffield have set Care Services Direct the challenge of supporting 3000 people to successfully quit smoking each year*. Furthermore, the service will continue to work alongside the additional stop smoking support in the city, including Midwifery led support for pregnant women to quit, the Workplace Advisor who attends local businesses to help staff to quit, and support in areas of the city where smoking prevalence is highest.

NHS Sheffield is one of the first primary care trust (PCT) in Yorkshire and the Humber to put the delivery of their stop smoking service to tender. It follows a model employed by a number of other PCTs elsewhere in the country, including in the North-West and the West Midlands. All staff who are currently employed by the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service will be able to continue working for the service under the new management.

A female resident escaped unharmed after a smoldering cigarette was believed to have started a fire which destroyed a bedroom and loft at a house in Sheffield earlier this week. Firefighters spent several hours putting out the fire at the terraced property on Woodburn Drive, Stannington, which also caused extensive smoke damage to the rest of the house.

And in a separate incident just 24 hours earlier, a 79 year old man was taken to hospital with burns to his right leg after he fell asleep in his chair whilst smoking. Luckily, a knock on the door woke the resident and firefighters put out the fire before it spread to the rest of the property on St Elizabeth Close, Heeley, Sheffield.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has just launched a campaign aimed at reducing the number smoking related incidents it attends, with smoking still the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires across the county.

Steve Makepeace, Head of Community Safety at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: “These two incidents, each within a few hours of each other, again highlight the dangers of smoking. A house has been devastated by fire and a man has been taken to hospital. Fortunately, the residents involved in these two incidents escaped with their lives. But on any day the outcomes could have been far more serious.

“The message to smokers could not be clearer. Never smoke in bed, never leave a lit cigarette unattended, always ensure that cigarettes are put out properly and keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.”

Smokers can help to keep the risk of fire low, by following some basic fire safety advice:

• Never smoke in bed- it’s very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to your bedclothes or furnishings
• Don’t smoke if you’re drowsy- especially if you’re sitting in a comfortable chair or if you’ve been drinking or taking prescription drugs. Again, it’s easy to fall asleep
• Don’t leave a lighted cigarette, pipe or cigar unattended – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material
• Make totally sure that your butts aren’t still smoldering- wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
• Keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children- you can also buy child-resistant lighters and containers for matches

For more information and fire safety advice visit the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue website, www.syfire.gov.uk or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/syfr. To arrange a free Home Safety Check call 0114 253 2314 or text FREE to 87023.

For stop smoking advice and support contact the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service on freephone 0800 068 4490.

This year seventeen 13 year old students from Valley Park Primary performed ‘I’d Do Anything’ from ‘Oliver’ on the City Hall steps. The song is part of the national Department of Health advertising campaign currently featuring on TV with a simple theme: that kids would be prepared to do anything for their parents if their parents stopped smoking.

The Sheffield Stop Smoking website www.sheffieldstopsmoking.org.uk has added the feature of a blog by local stop smoking advisers, which this week is being taken over by a real life quitters’ stories and advice.

Claire Holden, Service Manager for NHS Sheffield said: “Adding the facility for advisers to blog on the website helps others see first hand personal stories, add comments, or ask burning questions about quitting.

“Many people have a quit story and we want to encourage people to share them. You may not think yours is unique or interesting, however how you quit, and what you learned along the way can be a big help to others who are just starting their quitting journey.

“Steve has been a smoker for years and is a classic example of never giving up giving up. His experience is one that many people will be able to relate to and we are very grateful that Steve wants to help others as much as possible.”

For more information, help to quit smoking call 0800 068 4490 or visit the www.sheffieldstopsmoking.org.uk or text QUIT4 to 88020.

Read Steve’s story here.

This year seventeen 13 year old students from Valley Park Primary school will perform ‘I’d Do Anything’ from ‘Oliver’ on the City Hall steps. The song forms part of the national Department of Health advertising campaign currently featuring on TV with a simple theme: that kids would be prepared to do anything for their parents if their parents stopped smoking.

Claire Holden, service manager for NHS Sheffield’s stop smoking service said:” Research shows 96% of children whose parents smoke want them to quit, and that quitting for your loved ones is the most motivating factor for a large majority of smokers, above health.

“We hope this will encourage parents in particular to pledge to quit, therefore improving their own health and the health of their children. We have community stop smoking advisers running advice sessions for parents of Valley Park Primary pupils on a Wednesday morning at the school.”

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue District Manager Dick Hutton said: “Unfortunately, many people die in fires caused by smoking. Smoking materials are the single largest source of fatal fires, with 41% of fatal accidental house fires starting this way. The safest way to protect yourself and your children from fire is to quit smoking altogether, which is why we are keen to support our partners at NHS Sheffield on this annual national drive.”

In line with this year’s No Smoking Day theme of ‘breaking the chain’ of smoking, children’ are getting involved to help get the message across to their parents as statistics show that children whose parents smoke are two and three times more likely to smoke than those who come from non-smoking homes* – so we are looking to break that chain now.

The Stop smoking service is also asking people to sign pledges this year to quit smoking. The pledge could be who you are quitting smoking for – a child, or loved one, or why you are quitting smoking this year – to improve your health or save money.

To make your pledge, or for help to quit smoking, please ring freephone 0800 068 4490, visit www.sheffieldstopsmoking.org.uk or text QUIT4 to 88020

Make your pledge by leaving a reply below.

The city’s stop smoking workplace initiative will see temporary stop smoking clinics being set-up at two of Sheffield’s business parks. The clinics will be held one day each week at each business park over a five week period – beginning on the 19th January.

Claire Holden Manager at NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service said: “We know many people in Sheffield work in and around business parks so we wanted to offer stop smoking support in an environment that employees from many different organisations can go to for help and advice.

“The stop smoking workplace initiative has already been very successful, with many employers keen to support staff by offering the stop smoking service at work, including Norbert Dentressangle, Bovis Lend Lease, and William Cook. However this is the first time that we will be offering a clinic in one location to a number of organisations at one time.”

Cllr Gail Smith, the Council’s Cabinet member for Independent and Healthy Living said: “This is a great opportunity for you and your colleagues to meet the Stop Smoking team. Many people have already taken the chance to stop smoking with their support and are benefitting from improvements to their health as well as their wallets! Local businesses are also benefitting as sick leave is reduced, so take a few minutes of your lunch break to drop in – it could be the most important decision you take this year!”

If you would like more information on the Stop Smoking workforce initiative please contact Lucy Ball on 0114 273 4616 or email Lucy.Ball@sheffield.gov.uk

The No Smoking Day Event Organiser of the Year Awards is the charity’s way of recognizing and rewarding the creativity, determination and resourcefulness of the many people across the UK who organise events in support of the campaign, which this year took place on Wednesday 11 March.

No Smoking Day’s President Duncan Bannatyne said: “Congratulations to Sheffield’s Stop Smoking Service for organising such a creative, effective and award- winning No Smoking Day event. The 2009 No Smoking Day campaign saw many fantastic events happening across the UK and we had a more entries for the awards than ever before. So Sheffield’s achievement is therefore all the more impressive”.

Claire Holden the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service Manager said: “We are delighted to receive this award. It’s a great acknowledgment to the service and all the advisers who were involved in the innovative event – our city centre firewalk”

This year’s theme ‘take the first step, acknowledged that for people who decided to give up smoking on National No Smoking Day the date will be the first step towards a healthier future. Sheffield’s Stop Smoking Service invited quitters to take their first step by taking part in a ‘fire walk’ to mark the occasion of which 11 people were brave enough to take part.

Similarities were drawn from the task of quitting smoking and walking on fire; In order to walk across the burning hot coals, the participants were first given a motivational lesson to enable them to gain a sense of focus, strength and determination – all the elements needed to help quit smoking.

No Smoking Day 2009 proved to be one of the most successful in its 26 year history, with research showing that one in ten smokers made a quit attempt on the Day, saving lives right across the UK and helping people escape the destructive grip of tobacco once and for all. Next year’s No Smoking Day will take place Wednesday, 10 March 2010.

The Stagecoach Supertram will host a stall and two of the city’s top stop smoking advisors will be offering advice and support. The tram will also promote the opening of the city centre Stop Smoking Shop as part of a campaign to make the stop smoking service more accessible to young men.

A new shop will open at 106 Pinstone Street every Saturday from November 14th until December 19th, 10am to 4.30pm. Whilst the drive to open the shop came from local research which showed young men would be more likely to access the service in this way, anyone in the city who wants to stop smoking is welcome to drop in to the shop.

The new city centre stop smoking shop is part of a wider campaign targeting young men aged 18 – 25 who smoke. Adverts which form part of the campaign will be seen in bars, on taxis, around football grounds and on the side of trams to highlight to young men that if they stop smoking they’ll feel healthier, have more energy and look better.

The new service and campaign have been developed after young men told the service that the short term impact on health is the main reason they would quit because they don’t want to be short of breath or have reduced fitness levels.

Claire Holden the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service Manager said: “We are on the city centre trams to raise awareness of the new stop smoking shop on Pinstone Street that will open on Saturday and will act as a drop-in centre.

“The stop smoking tram also demonstrates the flexibility of the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service and shows that just a quick 5 minute conversation with one of our adviser is all you need to begin your stop smoking journey. It is a common misconception that in order to quit you must take part in ‘group’ meetings but many people can seek advice on a one-to-one basis and can see an adviser at a time that is convenient to them.

Anyone who does wish to give up smoking can also contact the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service 24/7 on 0800 068 4490 or visit www.sheffieldstopsmoking.org.uk or text QUIT4 to 88020.

The new service is part of a wider campaign targeting this audience using football images and fruit machines. It will be seen in bars, on taxis and around football grounds to highlight to young men that if they stop smoking they’ll feel healthier, have more energy and look better.

The campaign and new service have been developed on the back of work with young men, who explained that the short term impact on health is the main reason they would quit because they don’t want to be short of breath or have reduced fitness levels, and texting would be their preferred way to get stop smoking advice.

Claire Holden the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service Manager said: “We know that many young men enjoy keeping fit and smoking can affect their level of fitness so the campaign focuses on the immediate benefits of quitting. It also aims to make the stop smoking service easier to access and more tailored to their needs.

“These particular groups of smokers are more likely to go ‘cold turkey’ by trying to quit alone, however they are 4 times more likely to quit if they use the service, which is why we want to make sure they know that we are here to help them.”

A new Stop Smoking Shop will open at 106 Pinstone Street in the city centre and will be open every Saturday from November 14th Until December 19th, 10am to 4.30pm to make the service more accessible to young men.

Anyone who does wish to give up smoking in the meantime should contact the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service 24/7 on 0800 068 4490 or visit www.sheffieldstopsmoking.org.uk or text QUIT4 to 88020.

NHS Sheffield’s Stop Smoking Service has been supported and welcomed by community leaders and Imams in the city as they work together to help people quit smoking during the holy month of Ramadan and stay stopped after.

The service has been working hand in hand with the Pakistan Advice and Community Centre in Firvale and some of the larger Mosques in the city including Medina in Sharrow, Tinsley and Barnsley Road on the run up to Ramadan.

NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Team Leader Cherry Daniels said: “It is a very good time to encourage people to quit. Many will be refraining from smoking during daylight, everyday, for a whole month anyway – that’s the most of the difficult part over.

“We also recognise that quitting during Ramadan is not necessarily the difficult part but staying stopped is, so we will continue to offer confidential, sensitive support within the community settings when Ramadan ends.”

Anyone who does wish to give up smoking should contact the NHS Sheffield Stop Smoking Service 24/7 on 0800 068 4490 or visit www.sheffieldstopsmoking.nhs.uk