Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service

If you’re an employer, why not support your employees in making the single greatest improvement to their health, by providing stop smoking groups at work.

What does the scheme involve?

• On-site stop smoking support for all Sheffield sites
• A free seven-week programme of group support sessions (3 weeks prior and 4 weeks post quit) run by a trained NHS Stop Smoking Adviser.
• Information on appropriate medication options on prescription, such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) e.g. patches.
• Online or paper format surveys can be provided to find out how many of your employees smoke and would like to give up.
• Stop smoking clinics can be set up at your workplace, where there are more than 5 smokers who would like to take part.

Why should employers take part in the scheme?

• It makes business sense: Research shows the average smoker takes 40 minutes per day for smoking breaks – that’s a whole month for smoking breaks each year! Employees who smoke cost employers an average of £1500 a year through absence and lost productivity.
• It is the proper thing to do as a responsible employer!  Involvement in this scheme will reflect to your staff that their health is of paramount importance to you as their employer.
• Approximately 7 out of 10 smokers want to quit and they are up to four times more likely to succeed in their quit attempt with the support of the Stop Smoking Service and medication, than going ‘cold turkey’ alone.
• By offering groups at work, employers are providing a convenient and supportive environment, which many employees who have used the scheme so far have stated has been the key to their quitting success.

For more information on how you can support your staff through the Workplace Stop Smoking Scheme, please contact Lucy Ball, Workplace Stop Smoking Adviser on 0114 2734616 or lucy.ball@sheffield.gov.uk