Local health commissioners in the Vale of York are joining forces with the World Health Organisation today to help protect present and future generations from the devastating health consequences of tobacco.

Stopping smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health and wellbeing. Being smoke-free will also protect the health of people around you by reducing their exposure to second hand smoke and saves you money - the average smoker saves £150 a month when they quit!

NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) recently launched its own ‘Stop before your op’ campaign – encouraging smokers in the Vale of York to ditch the nicotine habit, especially if they are due to have hospital treatment or an operation; a time when it is even more important to give up cigarettes for good.

Dr Emma Broughton, one of a team of GPs at NHS Vale of York’s Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) said: “Patients that smoke and have surgery are at the greatest risk of complications during or after an operation. These include potentially serious complications such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as problems related to the general anaesthetic. Fighting infection is also more difficult for a smoker.

“Patients see the diagnosis of a smoking related illness as a wake-up call to stop smoking and given that a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of post-operative complications. The ‘Stop before your op’ policy offers patients who smoke the ideal opportunity to give up before they are faced with the diagnosis of a serious condition.

“Nicotine is highly addictive but with help and support more and more people are finding it easier to stop. There are a wide variety of nicotine substitutes and support services to help smokers quit available on the NHS.

“Your GP can help in lots of different ways to go smoke free including Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) sprays, gum and patches to manage withdrawal and prescription medicines such as Zyban and Champix.

“The CCG has worked closely with colleagues in Public Health teams and York Hospital to develop the policy which further promotes and enhances the important work of local stop smoking services and reinforces the CCG’s aim to achieve the best in health and wellbeing for everyone.”

Ends-

< Back to all news stories