A new campaign to encourage
people to stop smoking will feature personal testimonies
of ex-smokers who, often having tried several times
before, finally cracked it with the help of local stop
smoking services.
The campaign includes television ads, a magazine
'Aspire to Stop Smoking' for those smokers that are
contemplating giving up, and for those smokers ready
for action the publication 'How to Stop Smoking and
Stay Stopped' which provides a step-by-step guide
to quitting.
Health Minister Andy Kerr announced the launch ahead
of chairing NHS Borders annual review. The Minister
also officially opened Hawick hospital which is based
on a design selected by a panel of staff, patients
and members of the public.
Mr Kerr said:
" We don't want to get at smokers, we
want to help smokers.
_ Scotland
will be the first part of the UK to become completely
smoke free in all enclosed public places from 26
March 2006. An incentive to stop smoking is the
fact the Scotland's public places will be smoke-free
from next March.
_ We know
that in Scotland 70 per cent of Scots don't smoke
and of those who do 70 per cent want to give up.
_ That is
why we announced an additional £5 million
earlier this year to support people who want to
kick the habit. This funding will increase to £11
million by 2007-08.
_ Stopping
smoking is the single biggest step anyone can take
to improving their health. However, we know how
difficult taking that first step can be. Having
services out in the community - in places where
people live and work will make that step easier.
_ This new
campaign will help encourage more Scots to try
and give up smoking.
_ The adverts
use real life case studies of people who have successfully
given up smoking with the help and support of local
services."
Commenting on opening Hawick hospital, Mr Kerr said:
" This is an excellent example of modern
services being delivered locally for patients.
_ I am particularly
please that, as well as clinicians and other staff,
patients have been involved in the work to deliver
this new hospital.
_ It is a
real example of working with patients I want to
encourage and develop not just in NHS Borders but
in other parts of the country as well."
Commenting on NHS Borders annual review, Mr Kerr
said:
" The annual reviews will highlight success
and give credit where credit is due. But I also
want to use these reviews to scrutinise local
performance, challenge where necessary, and drive
forward further improvement.
_ I believe
that NHS Borders can build on its previous success
and further improve services and reduce waiting
times for patients in their area.
_ I want
to see an NHS which is better, quicker, closer
and safer. These reviews will help us deliver that."
The NHS Health Scotland stop smoking campaign includes
TV ads, a magazine Aspire to Stop Smoking for those
smokers that are contemplating giving up, and for
those smokers ready for action the publication How
to Stop Smoking and Stay Stopped which provides a
step by step guide to quitting. There is also a DVD,
which people can obtain free from smokeline to give
them more in-depth information on NRT and what to
expect if they attend a local stop smoking service.
The annual reviews will cover key areas such as:
activity and efficiency, waiting times, regional
planning, public involvement, finance and future
plans.
Material
in this news item was first released by the Scottish
Executive on 10th October 2005. For further information,
please visit their website using the link below.
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