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.

“I have attempted to quit umpteen times in the past using patches, lozenges, gum & I even went to hypnotherapy (twice), all attempts to quit were futile because, in my opinion, I was trying to quit for the wrong reasons… I knew I should quit, I was quitting for somebody else, I was quitting to save money or I was quitting for my health.

“All of the above reasons are valid and true reasons to quit, the only difference this time is that I WANTED to quit, the WANTING is the key.

“My last cigarette was on 29^th November 2009, I was using Zyban tablets and going for 1 to 1 support with NHS Sheffield’s stop smoking service. I also read the much acclaimed book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” by Alan Carr. Together, this book and the fantastic support from my stop smoking adviser, I not only successfully stopped smoking, I also stopped using the Zyban after 2 weeks into the 12 week course.

“Over the Christmas and New Year period, I was experiencing a very stressful time, I watched my mother pass away very slowly from secondary breast cancer. I still did not resort to smoke ‘to ease the stress’ because I knew it wouldn’t help me get through it all, people lose family members all the time, whether they smoke or not, so I believed I could cope through this as a non smoker and I have, with flying colours.

“I also joined a gym 2 weeks before I quit to help with the “new” lifestyle. 1 month after not smoking, my health improved vastly, this is a combination of working out and not smoking. The difference was a huge boost to me and proved to me that quitting has made me a much healthier and stronger person, not just physically but mentally too, my outlook is so much more optimistic and positive.

“A positive mental attitude and some determination, we humans can achieve anything we want to, if we WANT to.

“If you are trying to quit smoking and you fail, don’t be down hearted or hard on yourself, try again. There are no rules to quitting, we are all different in how we do things, if it takes another 10 attempts before you DO quit, so what, at least you tried and eventually won. Remember, you are not missing out on anything by quitting, you only stand to gain.”

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.

Local stop smoking specialists are concerned people aren’t accessing the support they need because of the continued wintry spell.

“January and February is traditionally our busiest period, with people pledging to quit as a new year resolution, but we aren’t seeing the numbers through the door we would otherwise expect at this time of year,” explained Claire Holden, manager of NHS Sheffield’s Stop Smoking Service.

“This is undoubtedly down to the weather, with people unable or reluctant to leave home to meet an advisor or attend one our clinics. We’re still getting plenty of calls by phone, and enquiries by email, but a lot of people prefer face-to-face contact and that simply isn’t happening.

“Our major concern is that their motivation to quit will wane as a result, and potential service users may well be back on the cigarettes by the time the weather does finally improve. As a result we are asking smokers this year to treat ‘National No Smoking Day’ as the time to make their new year’s resolutions and asking people to pledge now to quit on March 10th.”

NHS Sheffield’s Stop Smoking Service team is offering support regardless of the conditions outside, with new programmes being added on a regular basis. A number of initiatives will be taking place across the city for No Smoking Day throughout the week of March 8th.

Make your pledge by leaving a reply below.

 Is New Year a good time to quit? Let us know your experiences, positive or otherwise. 

Have you kept to your resolution of a smokefree lifestyle?  Let us know.

For info and support on stopping smoking call Sheffield Stop Smoking Service Helpline  on Freephone: 0800 068 4490

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

Free confidential support and advice to help you stop smoking is available in Sheffield, close to where you live work & play. The Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service provides highly effective programmes that include a weekly support package and nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches or alternative medicine.

The NHS support package is many more times effective than willpower alone. Giving up smoking will improve your health and save you money. It will also protect the health of your family.

Find your nearest service by giving us a call today free on 0800 068 4490, to do the one single thing that can dramatically improve your health almost straight away!

Contact us here at Sheffield Stop Smoking Service and make the start of 2010 the best start you can by Quitting! Ring us on 0800 068 4490

I gave up smoking thanks to the support. Try it ! I did and have never looked back.

I gave up in April 2007 and used patches which worked. Feel A1

Never easy to quit but easier with NHS support.

Best thing I have ever done, Did it with help from the local chemist.

What I saved in a year – I took the whole family to Florida.

Best thing I ever did giving up smoking. I smoked for 40 years. No more bad chests or clothes smelling. It’s hard but don’t ever give up trying, it’s all worth it.

Stopped 2002 and saved £7300 already!

Support is free and confidential, we are just a phone call away! Sheffield Stop Smoking Service 0800 068 44 90