Bristol Smokers Are Urged To Get Help To Quit

Wednesday, March 10th 2010 00:00

On "No Smoking Day 2010", people across Bristol are being encouraged to stub out their last cigarette.

New figures reveal that an estimated 900,270 adults across the South West still smoke.

Now one grandfather from Bishopston is urging them to get support. 60-year-old Phil Ball used to get through 20 cigarettes a day. The Managing Director of an office fitting company had been smoking cigarettes since he was in his teens. Although his family knew he smoked, he never did it in front of them and was getting fed up with having to hide it.

But he eventually quit after going along to group sessions in Horfield with Bristol's Stop Smoking Service.

Phil said: "I had stopped smoking for a while when I got married 22 years ago, but as I was doing it on my own, I soon started again. In November last year I felt it was time I did it once and for all. I had read that if you attend the NHS Stop Smoking sessions, you are four times more likely to succeed. That really appealed to me.

"It was so good to get involved with the group as we were able to share stories and I also felt I owed something to the others to keep going. Not only did the advisers have some excellent advice, but it was just as important to hear the ideas of the other members as well.

"Quitting was so much easier than I thought. It's such a nice feeling not to have to shower and change my clothes before my grandchildren visit. Before I quit, I was very conscious that I smelt of cigarettes and I did not want them to have to experience that.

"Although my family knew I smoked, I didn't want them to see me doing it, so I was always having to smoke on my own. My sense of smell and taste has increased no end and I've noticed I'm not going to the cashpoint as often as I used to - money stays in my pocket for a bit longer now!

"Anyone thinking about stopping smoking this No Smoking Day should give the NHS Stop Smoking Service a try. The key thing is to get involved in a group because it works!"

The NHS Stop Smoking Service say 32,000 people in the region stopped smoking with their support last year. Since 1999, 211,000 people have quit with the service.

Fiona Andrews, Director of Smokefree South West said:

"Research has shown that smokers who quit using the NHS Stop Smoking Service are giving themselves the best chance of success. We would encourage smokers to make No Smoking Day 2010 their quit day, and with over 1,000 locations across the South West, there's an NHS Stop Smoking Service near you."

To find out more about how to quit smoking, you can call the NHS Smoking helpline on 0800 028 0553 or text NSD and your postcode to 88088.