Quit smoking, start saving

It's never too late to quit smoking, and quitting smoking can seriously improve your prospects.

Around 78,000 people in the UK die every year from smoking.

Stoptober is an annual campaign encouraging smokers to quit for 28 days from 1 October.  Did you know that if you can quit smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to quit for good?  

By joining thousands of others this Stoptober, you could improve your health as well as your finances.  According to a report by Action on Smoking and Health published earlier this year, the average smoker in England spends around £2,000 a year on their habit. The cost to England as a whole, according to the same report, is £17 billion a year. 

Visit this NHS webpage and download its free app to track how much money you could save by quitting smoking.

The good news is you don't have to do it alone - there is plenty of support available.

Herefordshire residents, and those registered with one of the county’s GPs, are entitled to expert support from our stop smoking service.  It provides:

• 12 weeks of personal stop smoking support
• Face-to-face behavioural support - you can choose from a range of nicotine replacement therapy options to help you
• Support if you choose to use e-cigarettes

Please email hlts@herefordshire.gov.uk or call 01432 383567 to speak to one of our health trainers.  Visit Talk Community’s stop smoking webpages for more information.

Councillor Pauline Crockett, cabinet member for health and adult wellbeing, says:

“It’s great to see that there’s support on offer for Herefordshire residents wanting to quit smoking. I hope many people take up the offer. Their health and wealth are at stake, which really should be enough incentive for anyone to break the habit.”