Each year, a different theme is used to raise awareness of No Smoking Day. This year’s 2011 calendar image, shown on the NHS Norfolk website, invites smokers to think about setting a Time to Quit.

Jennie Pusey, NHS Norfolk’s Stop Smoking Service Commissioning Manager, said: “No Smoking Day is an excellent occasion to inspire smokers to give up, particularly if they may have wanted to stop for a while. As so many people are inspired to quit around this date, it is a chance for smokers to help each other to stop smoking together and break free from a very addictive habit.”

The NHS Norfolk website contains links to local stop smoking services, and Smokefree – where you can order your free Quit Kit, free NHS Quit Smoking app, free MP3 downloads ‘stressbuster for the mind and body’, plus a wide range of advice and information.

There are also links to the NHS Choices website, which includes top tips and information on the financial and health benefits of quitting, plus a link to “We Quit”, the No Smoking Day 2011 website which is dedicated to smokers.

Visit the NHS Norfolk website at: www.norfolk.nhs.uk. You can also gain extra inspiration to quit through NHS Norfolk’s Twitter page. Visit: www.twitter.com/nhsnorfolk to find out more.

Call Smokefree Norfolk on 0800 0854 113.

Ewa Wilson, who lives in King’s Lynn, had been smoking for more than 35 years until she gave up in November 2010. She estimates that she has saved £630 so far, thanks to her healthier lifestyle.

She had tried stopping smoking before, but her attempts had only lasted a few days. Now, thanks to the Health Trainer Service, she has managed to quit for good.

Ewa said: “I contacted the service as I wanted to stop smoking but knew I needed support to do this.


“I had been smoking for more than 35 years. My smoking habit had crept up over the past months and I was smoking 30 a day.”

Ewa worked with John Kirby, a Health Trainer with the King’s Lynn service, for six sessions – an experience she found invaluable in helping her give up cigarettes.

John was also able to give Ewa a special breathing test, which measured the levels of carbon monoxide in her breath as a smoker, and this made her even more determined to give up.

Ewa, 54, said: “When I had my first meeting, John made me realise that I did really want to quit smoking. We had a good talk, and he gave me lots of information and support. He explained the service to me really well.


“John explained about the health benefits of giving up smoking, and his talk really helped me. The carbon monoxide machine really helped egg me on with my quit.”

She added: “I feel good now I have stopped smoking. I am breathing better and I don’t feel breathless. When I wake in the morning my mouth feels fresher I don’t have the nasty taste in my mouth anymore.


“I can taste food better now, it has lots of flavours and I just feel healthier in myself. During my quit I have saved myself £630 from not smoking.”

Vicky Mitchell, Health Trainer Co-ordinator for the King’s Lynn area, said: “Health Trainers provide the additional information, support and motivation to help people achieve the health improvements they have decided to make.

“They support people in a variety of ways – whether they want to eat more healthily, take more exercise or stop smoking. We are delighted that Ewa has found the service so helpful, and congratulate her on giving up smoking.

“We hope that her experience will inspire others who want to adopt a healthier lifestyle to contact us.”

Ewa added: “I would give the Health Trainer Service 10 out of 10 points, as without their help and support I would not have been able to quit.”

Ewa’s lifestyle is now healthier in other ways too. She is going to join a gym and she is also eating more healthily following advice from the Health Trainers.


“I would tell anyone I know to use the service as I have found their help so good,” she said.

“My sister who lives in Poland is really envious that we have this service here, as in Poland they don’t have this type of service.”

Health Trainers work on a one-to-one basis with their clients to help them set and achieve their own personal health improvement goals, such as reducing their alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, adopting a healthy diet or increasing the amount of exercise they take.

The Health Trainer Service is free, and aimed at anyone aged over 16 who is looking to make a healthier start in 2011. It is funded by NHS Norfolk and is staffed by Health Trainers who are recruited from the local community.

While they are not personal trainers or physical instructors and do not give medical advice, the trainers provide free motivation, encouragement and bespoke support to people who want to make changes to their lifestyle.

Call the King’s Lynn Health Trainer Service on 01553 782629. There is also a Health Trainer Service in Norwich and Thetford. People living in Norwich can call 01603 625093 and in Thetford call 01842 757341.

To find out more about the Health Trainer Service, visit the NHS Norfolk website at www.norfolk.nhs.uk and click on “Your Services”.

To discuss the support on offer to help you give up smoking call freephone 0800 0854 113. Alternatively, visit Smokefree Norfolk’s website (www.smokefreenorfolk.nhs.uk), speak to your GP or local pharmacist.