North Wales stubbing out smoking: successful quitters urge more people to stop this October
More than 2,000 people stopped smoking with the support of the NHS during a record-breaking year for quitters in North Wales
Data from our Help Me Quit service shows our friendly specialist advisors helped a total of 2,077 people break free from tobacco between April 2023 and March 2024 – more in a single year than ever before.
Now we’re encouraging more people to take their first steps to stop this October.
Helping people to quit smoking is one of the health board’s priorities because tobacco has such a huge impact on health.
Smoking is still the leading cause of early death and preventable illness in Wales. Last week, figures from Public Health Wales revealed how more than one in 10 deaths of people aged over 35 in Wales is caused by smoking.
But stopping smoking has major benefits for health and wellbeing within just a few hours, and can have important lifestyle benefits too.
AC/DC fan Ian Tomlinson, from Wrexham, had never seen his favourite band – but was able to make a rock pilgrimage to one of their gigs at Wembley Stadium this summer
Ian said he enjoyed the trip to the full after a boost in his energy levels and his back pocket after he quit earlier this year.
“We paid for tickets, we paid for the hotel, we paid for food, we paid for petrol down,” he said. “The whole thing was an experience that I would never have ever had if I had still been smoking.
“Not only did I get to go and see the concert, I could stand there with my wife and enjoy it. And she could enjoy me standing with her, rather than me having to go and sit down.
“We stood there for five hours. I'm not saying I danced like a kid, but I was shuffling the best I can which I couldn't do before! It just gives you the energy and the enthusiasm to do stuff that you always wanted to do.”
Graham Roberts, from Abergele, feels he has broken free from being controlled by cigarettes after kicking smoking with Help Me Quit
“The best thing about quitting smoking is health-wise, definitely health-wise, money, and not smelling of smoke – especially when you're trying to say goodnight to your children,” Graham said.
“I think the main thing is I'm no longer addicted to smoking. I've actually beaten something that had a grip on me for many, many years.
“And if I can do it, anybody can do it. It's nice to know that I have finally beaten something that I was addicted to. But no – not any more.”
Four times more effective
Services like Help Me Quit have been shown to be more than four times more effective than quitting without support. Help Me Quit offers free, motivational face-to-face or phone support from a specialist advisor or at a local pharmacy, plus free nicotine replacement products like patches, gum or mouth spray to help with cravings.
Over the last year our team has worked with a wide range of partners to deliver the service to more people, including patients in our hospitals and pregnant women. And we’re currently evaluating a 12-month pilot scheme which offered shopping vouchers to women and their partners if they stayed smoke-free during pregnancy and in the months following birth.
Acting Executive Director of Public Health Dr Jane Moore said reducing the impact smoking has on the health of people here in North Wales was a key priority for the health board. Prevention of illness is one of the health board’s primary objectives, and has recently been underlined by our new three-year plan.
“Smokers know that tobacco is damaging their health, and that tobacco smoke damages the health of the people around them,” Dr Moore said. “They know that smoking is expensive.
“So we’re pleased that so many smokers are turning to our specialist, free Help Me Quit service when they make the decision that it is time for them to break free. People like Ian and Graham show just how life-changing support to stop smoking from our service can be.
“Our Help Me Quit advisors know how difficult it is, and work really hard to support and continue to motivate people who want to quit. Their help is available to everyone, including people who have tried to stop before – and people who might have restarted smoking.”
You can find more information about Help Me Quit services in North Wales or register for a call-back to start your journey to quitting smoking here, or by calling 08000 852 219.
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