NHS stop smoking services help you quit

Local stop smoking services are free, friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good.

Did you know that wherever you live in the UK, you have easy access to a free service proven to help you stop smoking?

Local stop smoking services staffed by expert advisers provide a range of proven methods to help you quit. They will give you accurate information and advice and give you professional support during the first few months of stopping smoking. 

They also make it easy and affordable for you to get stop smoking treatments, such as:

• Champix (varenicline)
• Zyban (bupropion)
• nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum

One-on-one versus group stop smoking sessions

You will normally be offered a one-to-one appointment with an adviser, but many areas also offer group and drop-in services as well.

Depending on where you live, the venue could be a local GP surgery, pharmacy, high street shop, or even a mobile bus clinic.

Jennifer Percival, who trains stop smoking advisers, says that a combination of support and treatment is proven to give you the best chance of stopping smoking.

“The majority of people who see an adviser will get through the first month after quitting without smoking a cigarette. And overall, you’re up to four times more likely to stop smoking for good if you receive help from an NHS Stop Smoking Service.” she says

How to contact a stop smoking adviser

Your GP can refer you, or you can phone your local stop smoking service to make an appointment with an adviser.

In England

• find stop smoking services in England
• call the free Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044

In Scotland

• find stop smoking services in Scotland
• call the free Smokeline on 0800 84 84 84

In Wales

• find stop smoking services in Wales
• call the free Stop Smoking Wales Helpline on 0800 085 2219

In Northern Ireland

• find stop smoking services in NI

What happens at the first stop smoking session?

At your first meeting with an adviser, you'll talk about why you smoke and why you want to quit, as well as any attempts you've made to quit in the past. You'll also be able to decide on a quit date.

You'll be offered a breath test, which shows the level of carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas in cigarette smoke – in your body. 

“You don’t need to be sure you want to quit or have a quit plan in mind before this meeting,” says Jennifer. “You can use the time to talk your situation through with the adviser without making a commitment. If you do decide to quit, the adviser can help you form an action plan and set a quit date, usually in a week or so.”

Stop smoking aids

At your first session, you'll also discuss NHS-endorsed stop smoking treatments available to help you.

These are nicotine replacement products - including patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators and mouth and nasal sprays - and the stop smoking tablets Champix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion).

“No one is forced to use treatment,” says Jennifer, “but we will encourage it because the results are better. All the treatments we recommend can double your chances of quitting.

“We can help you decide which type of treatment is right for you and how to use it. In some cases, we can directly supply you with the treatment before you leave, or we can arrange for you to receive a prescription or a voucher for it. In the case of nicotine replacement therapy, it often works out at least a third cheaper than buying it from a pharmacy.”

There is evidence that e-cigarettes can help people stop smoking. E-cigarettes are not currently available as medicines so they can't be supplied by stop smoking services or prescribed on the NHS.

However, if you want to use an e-cigarette to help you quit, you can still get advice and support from a stop smoking adviser to give you the best chance of success.

Read more about using e-cigarettes to stop smoking.

Jennifer points out that NHS stop smoking advisers only provide evidence-based support. "We won't suggest or recommend hypnosis or acupuncture as there's not enough evidence they help you stop smoking."

Preventing relapse

As a general rule, you will have weekly face-to-face or phone contact with your adviser for the first four weeks after you quit smoking, then less frequently for a further eight weeks.

At each meeting, you'll receive a supply of, or a prescription for, a stop smoking treatment if you're using it, and have your carbon monoxide level measured.

You'll have an emergency number for out-of-hours times to help youcope with cravings and avoid lighting up if you are struggling.

“Going on the 12-week programme requires you to commit to not having a single puff of a cigarette,” says Jennifer. “Measuring carbon monoxide levels is not about checking up on you. It’s more to motivate you to stay smoke-free by showing how your body is already recovering."

Stop smoking advisers are also very experienced in helping you identify difficult situations when there may be a strong temptation to relapse and start smoking. And they can help you come up with ways to cope with or avoid these situations.

“If you do relapse, we won’t judge or nag you or take it personally. We’re a friendly face that understands how difficult it is to quit, and we’ll help you get back on track to becoming a non-smoker," says Jennifer.

Resource: nhs.uk