No Smoking Day – make a fresh start

TASK, Stop Smoking Service is set to provide smokers in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale with all the help they need to quit on No Smoking Day.

On Wednesday 14 March, 2007 shoppers across Rochdale Borough will be encouraged to set quit dates on No Smoking Day and will leave armed with information leaflets highlighting the many sources of help and methods of kicking the habit.

Events will be taking place in the following locations:

Tuesday 13 March

13.30-16.30pm
Taylor Street Clinic, Heywood nbsp; 

Drop In Session available for local smokers who want to set quit dates or get free and confidential advice from a trained T.A.S.K smoking advisor. Counselling for existing patients will continue as normal.

Wednesday 14 March

All day
Rochdale Market   
T.A.S.K Stop Smoking Advisors will be on hand throughout the day to offer information to local smokers about their health and other benefits to be gained from quitting smoking and will even take your carbon monoxide readings to establish if you are in as good shape as you think.
Representatives from Rochdale AFC and hopefully a few local footballer players will also be there for part of the day supporting the Stop Smoking Service with raising the issue of smoking and the health benefits of quitting.

Tesco, Middleton Arndale
All day
Specially trained Smoking Advisors who work for Tesco will be encouraging smoking shoppers to set quit dates whilst they buy their groceries. They will also promote the health and other benefits to be gained from quitting smoking.

As an extra incentive for smokers there is a free meal up for grabs to the lucky person who sets a quit date on No Smoking Day and has still stopped smoking after their 4 week monitoring stage.

The names for those who have set quit dates on No Smoking Day and stop smoking for 4 weeks will be entered into a prize draw for the chance of winning a meal for two at Pizza Hut, a self confirmed Smokefree restaurant.

Smoke related illness remains the main cause of premature death in the borough.
No Smoking Day expects to inspire over a million people nationwide to try and stop smoking and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust are here to support those who have had difficulties in the past.

TASK, Stop Smoking Service say; “This year we will be encouraging people to ‘Make a fresh start’.  By setting a quit date with us you have taken the first steps to a life with more money to spend, better health and better looking skin and hair.”

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT offers free counselling and support from professionally trained advisors to smokers wanting to quit through either group or one-to-one sessions.

TASK, Stop Smoking Service added: “We are here to help and we want to stress to local people that you do not have to do it alone. Research shows that smokers are up to four times as likely to quit with the help of their local NHS Stop Smoking Service rather than relying upon will power alone. Most people are unaware that they may be entitled to free Nicotine Replacement Treatment, alternatively, we can write to their GP, asking for further medical support.”

Last year 1.5 million smokers made a quit attempt and millions more used the Day to take a step towards stopping smoking.
 
The No Smoking Day campaign will be celebrating 24 years on 14 March 2007 of raising awareness to the benefits of kicking the habit.

The PCT is also asking non smokers to protect themselves and their families from the harmful effects of second hand smoke. The PCT wants to see more and more people make a Smoke Free Home Promise. Contact the Smoke Free Homes Campaign for more information email: Lisa.Barker@hmrpct.nhs.uk or Tel: 01706 924225. Alternatively make a Smokefree pledge online at www.hmrpct.nhs.uk