Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Stop Smoking

Smokefree England

Oldham’s NHS Stop Smoking Service, established in 2001, is here to help smokers who wish to give up.

All the evidence shows that people who get support with their quit attempt are more likely to be successful than people who don’t, regardless of whether they use nicotine replacement or good-old fashioned will power.

The Stop Smoking Service aims to help people:

• build the motivation to quit
• prepare for the quit day
• survive the first week and beyond

The Service also provides information on:

• keeping weight off and overcoming cravings
• identifying danger zones
• coping with a relapse

Why it’s worth giving up

• The human body is remarkably resilient and will start to repair the damage caused by smoking almost as soon as you give up.
• The benefits to your health can be seen in as little as 20 minutes from the time you put down your last cigarette.
• Within 20 minutes – your blood pressure and pulse return to normal and your circulation improves.
• Within 8 hours – the oxygen level in your blood increases to a normal level and the chances of a heart attack start to fall.
• Within 24 hours – carbon monoxide leaves your body and your lungs start to clear out the mucus and debris.
• Within 48 hours – nicotine is no longer found in your body and your senses of taste and smell improve.
• Within 72 hours – your breathing becomes easier and your energy levels increase.
• Within 12 weeks – your circulation continues to improve and exercise becomes easier.
• Within nine months – breathing problems, coughing, wheezing and lung efficiency improve.
• Within five years – the risk of having a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
• Within 10 years – the risk of lung cancer falls to around half that of a smoker and the risk of a heart attack falls to about the same as someone who never smoked.

Who Are We?

We are a team of professional advisors, specialists and administrators available to help you. We offer group sessions, one-to-one, telephone support and tailor made programmes to meet your business needs.

Aims of the Service

To provide a free service that is available to all smokers across Oldham

In particular we positively target young males, pregnant women and members of the Black and Minority Ethnic communities.  

What do we offer?

We support individuals in their choice to stop smoking, through a variety of means, which include :-

• Stop Smoking workshops (6 weekly sessions usually between 1 and 2 hours)
• Individual sessions for clients unable to attend groups e.g. due to health status
• Clients who do not manage to stop smoking or stay stopped will be welcomed on future courses
• In house programmes for workplaces
• Brief Intervention training for people working with smokers and Advisor training for Health Care Professionals

For smokers aged 16 and above, telephone an advisor at the Stop Smoking Service on 0800 328 8534 - lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm (answerphone at all other times) or call in to see your practice nurse or GP.

Smokers aged 15 or under should be advised to speak to the School Health Education Advisor or the PSHE Coordinator.

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