40th Anniversary of No Smoking Day

Smokers in Cheshire West and Chester are being offered support to quit on the 40th anniversary of No Smoking Day, and beyond.

Fewer people in the borough smoke than ever before but smoking remains the leading cause of preventable ill-health and early death.

Cllr Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health), said:

“I’ve been a smoker on and off since I was a teenager. In October I made my first appointment with Brio Leisure who provide our local stop smoking service and I have now been smokefree for five months.

“It’s not easy but my appointment was brilliant, and the lady helped me to work out a plan that was best for me.

“Stopping smoking is really important to me as a mum of three teenagers and Cabinet member for Public Health.

“I honestly wish I had never started.”

Smoking currently kills around 64,000 people in the UK each year. Reducing smoking continues to be a key objective within Cheshire West and Chester’s Health Improvement Strategy and the Council supports the ambition for England to become a smokefree nation by 2030.

The theme for this year’s No Smoking Day is: ‘You know you want to quit. We know you can’, promoting encouragement and support for those on their quit journey.

Cllr Denson said:

“Giving up isn’t easy but you are three times more likely to quit with support from a stop smoking advisor so I would really recommend booking an appointment.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. You feel the benefits quickly too – you start moving better, breathe more easily and have money to spend.”

The stop smoking service in Cheshire West and Chester is run by Council company Brio Leisure and operates throughout the year.

For more information visit:

http://www.cheshirechangehub.org

or call:

0300 777 0033