Families encouraged to access free support to stop smoking this No Smoking Day (8th March 2023)
Get free expert support to stop smoking if you live with a child under three in Worcestershire.
The Smoke Free Homes service is available to help people quit smoking. It’s open to mums, dads, carers, or anyone who lives with a child under the age of three in Worcestershire.
Recent public health data suggests the proportion of mothers known to be smokers at time of delivery in Worcestershire is currently around 11.5%. This is higher than the national average of 9.6%.
The best thing you can do to protect you and your family from the harms of second-hand smoke is to quit smoking.
Wednesday 8th March, No Smoking Day is a great time to decide to take action to quit smoking.
Smokers don’t have to give up alone though. This friendly service will help with:
- Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
- 1:1 support with a trained advisor to help you quit and stay on track
- Joint family support sessions if preferred
Louise Langston, Clinical Service Manager for Starting Well Partnership said: “It’s fantastic to offer dedicated support to family members with young children who want to stop smoking. The effects of second-hand smoking on babies and children can be really serious and we hope this service helps many more homes to become ‘smoke free’.”
Councillor Karen May, Cabinet Member with responsibility for health and wellbeing at Worcestershire County Council said: “No Smoking Day is a great day to decide to quit smoking and join many others around the country. Stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to your health and those around you.
“With free nicotine replacement therapy support from experts, you are more likely to quit for life. If you do have a young family, please take up this great opportunity for support and sign up to the Smoke Free Homes service.”
To sign up for the new service and get an appointment, please email: whcnhs.smokefreehomes@nhs.net. For more information, go to the Starting Well Partnership website.
Smoke Free Homes is part of the Starting Well Partnership which provides support to parents, families, children, and young people to live happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives across Worcestershire.
The Starting Well Partnership works alongside lots of local organisations and community groups including schools and GP surgeries. Identifying and addressing health and wellbeing needs, by empowering families and young people to access support networks and groups in the local community.
-ENDS-
Editors Notes:
The Starting Well Partnership is led by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust working together with Barnardo’s, Action for Children and Redditch Borough Council to provide a service that supports ‘parents to be’ and their children during the early years and as they move through school towards adulthood. The Starting Well Service is delivered on behalf on Worcestershire County Council.
According to Annual Population Survey smoking prevalence in Worcestershire and the proportion of mothers smoking at time of birth is 11.5%, compared the national average of 9.6% - SOURCE: Worcestershire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment report 2022 page 22