A Stockton woman who was lighting up 100 a day is urging all smokers to take the leap today and ask for help in quitting smoking.
34-year-old Clare Davison from Stockton-on-Tees had been a smoker since she was just 11-years-old, eventually working her way up to 80 to 100 cigarettes a day.
When she became pregnant in April this year, she was referred to the specialist stop smoking service for Stockton, based at the University Hospital of North Tees, by the hospital’s maternity team.
Clare said: “I started smoking more than 20 years ago now. I was just young and stupid and it went on more and more to the point where I just couldn’t stop.
“With me being pregnant, I was going to the hospital so they referred me to the service.
“A lady from the service contacted me. She was absolutely lovely and she talked me through how to quit.”
Upon beginning her journey to quitting, Clare had a discussion with a stop smoking advisor at the hospital to talk her through the different methods of quitting.
She was given a nicotine inhalator, carbon monoxide checks and free regular support to help her cut down and eventually quit altogether for both her and her baby’s health.
Now that she has quit her bad habit, she is looking forward to the arrival of her baby, due 9 January 2022.
Clare continued: “I wouldn’t have done it without the service – it was so helpful. I’d like to thank them for that.”
“If you want it, you really can do it. I was smoking over a hundred a day some days – I never thought I would cut down, let alone fully quit.”
Stop smoking service
The stop smoking service offers prescribed nicotine replacement therapy, advice and support to residents in Stockton-on-Tees borough council areas.
Sue Swinson, service lead for the stop smoking service, commented: “Clare has done amazingly well in what she has achieved.
“Stopping smoking is one of the most important things anyone can do to improve their baby’s health, growth and development.
“It is also the single most important things you can do to improve your own long-term health.”
If you live in Stockton-on-Tees and are looking for help to quit smoking today, please get in touch with the service by completing an online referral form or by calling 01642 383819 or 01642 383818, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
For more information, please head to our stop smoking service page.
To download the free NHS Quit Smoking app, visit NHS Better Health.
