It is four years tomorrow, July 1, since smoking was banned in enclosed public places across England.

The new figures show that between April 2010 and March 2011, a total of 5,033 people in NHS Norfolk’s area gave up smoking.

This is the highest number of quitters ever recorded and an increase of 13.5% compared to the previous financial year (2009/2010) when 4,434 people were helped to quit smoking.

The vast majority of people were helped to quit with support from Smokefree Norfolk, the stop smoking service delivered by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C). Smokefree Norfolk’s stop smoking experts help people to find the best method of quitting, including offering group sessions, one-to-one support, and drop-in meetings. The service also trains stop smoking advisors who are based within GP practices and pharmacies.

Clive Slater, NHS Norfolk’s Tobacco Control Adviser, said: “These figures are very encouraging and we are delighted that so many people have been helped to give up smoking.


“We have been working with Smokefree Norfolk, NHS Norfolk health trainers, community pharmacies, GPs and a number of other providers with whom we have contracted to make access to stop smoking support as flexible and easy as possible. These figures suggest our strategy is working well.”

Katie McGoldrick, Team Leader for NCH&C’s Smokefree Norfolk, said: “In the last year we have relaunched our stop smoking service under the name Smokefree Norfolk and have undergone significant restructuring to further improve the service we offer to local people. This has included the recruitment of even more expert stop smoking advisors and the introduction of additional stop smoking sessions at weekends and in the evenings.


“I am delighted that we have helped so many people to give up the habit, as smoking can lead to a number of very serious conditions, such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. With NHS support, smokers can be up to four times more likely to give up for good so I encourage any smokers who are keen to quit to contact Smokefree Norfolk to discuss how we can help you achieve your goal.”

For NHS help to stop smoking, call Smokefree Norfolk on 0800 0854 113, visit the website at: www.smokefreenorfolk.nhs.uk or speak to your GP or pharmacist.

You can also contact your local NHS Health Trainer Service. If you live in the King’s Lynn area, call 01553 782629. People living near Norwich can call 01603 625093 and in Thetford call 01842 757341.

There is more information at www.norfolk.nhs.uk (then click on “Your Services”).