Healthcare workers have launched the first of a regular series of health promotion campaigns – with the focus beginning on smoking.
Staff in centralised outpatients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust will highlight a different health topic each month.
The displays in public waiting areas at both the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool will include information about advice and support on offer.
The focus this month is on the Trust’s smoke-free status and the help available, including from the community stop smoking service.
Lisa Tomlinson, a nursing associate in centralised outpatients, is one of the Trust’s smoke-free champions.
Lisa oversees health promotion for the department. She said: “So many patients, staff and visitors pass through these areas every day. It makes them the perfect place to display important information that could be useful to them.
“Sometimes just having that information available can help make a difference. When it comes to stopping smoking, I know through the champions training I have had that many smokers want to make that change but just don’t know how to start.
“This has been a real team effort – staff from across the department have come together to organise displays in several of the waiting areas at both hospital sites.”
Rafeed Rashid, secondary care specialist stop-smoking advisor, said: “Thank you to all of the team in centralised outpatients for putting together these fantastic displays.
“Signposting smokers to the help which is out there is so important. It’s the first step in helping them make that life changing decision to quit.
“Our community stop smoking team are here to support people in Stockton who want to make that positive change.”
Ask for support
Stockton residents: 01642 383819
Hartlepool residents: 01429 402814 or 01429 402815
National NHS Smokefree Helpline: 0300 123 1044.
Staff who would like to access stop smoking support can contact the Trust’s occupational health department.
For more information about quitting smoking, visit NHS Better Health.
