North East smoking rates hit record low as Northumberland man celebrates quitting after 60-years
A Northumberland man who quit tobacco after 60 years has shared his story as North East smoking rates reach a record low.
The North East and North Cumbria Smokefree NHS Programme is celebrating three years since NHS Foundation Trusts launched their on-site Tobacco Dependency Treatment Teams.
Since then, around 95,845 people have been identified as smoking on admission or at booking for maternity patients, and around 67,900 patients referred to in-house NHS to help with quitting or temporary abstinence whilst in hospital.
This work is part of the NHS 10 Year Plan to reduce the harms caused by smoking – the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the region.
Latest figures also show adult smoking rates at the lowest they have ever been at 10.2% for the North East and North Cumbria compared to 29% in 2005.
Dr Jeremy Rushmer, Executive Medical Director and Executive Sponsor at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “If a patient smokes, our tobacco dependency advisors can help their recovery in hospital.
“They’ll do this by offering behavioural support, education around options available, discuss setting a quit date, refer to local authorities, and follow up on the patients’ quitting journey.
“We know stopping smoking can be difficult, but getting people the right specialist support is hugely significant in their journey to quitting smoking."
Charlie Balfour, a former smoker from Ancroft in Northumberland, quit in June after nearly 60 years of smoking.
He said: “I’d tried to quit more times than I can count but the cravings always pulled me back.
“After my diagnosis with COPD and a recent bout of pneumonia I was rushed to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) in Cramlington by ambulance and assessed by the Tobacco Dependency Team in the Emergency Department.
“They asked if I smoked straight away and gave me patches and support. The team was brilliant. They gave me everything I needed, advice, encouragement, patches.
“I feel fitter. I can breathe better. I can walk further without stopping for air. I’m driving again because I’ve got more energy. And I’m back in the workshop helping train our new apprentice. It’s like I’ve got part of my life back.”