The NHS Lanarkshire Quit Your Way service has updated its current SCI Gateway referral form to make it easier for Primary Care to refer patients who smoke. The form has been amended so it’s shorter and therefor quicker to complete referrals.
The new form asks for the basic details of the patient and the referrer, including both their contact information then the team will make contact directly for any additional details they require.
Kat Jarvie, Senior Health Improvement Manager – Quit Your Way, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We appreciate health professionals are very busy and this updated referral pathway via SCI is to improve access for patients while also reducing the referral burden.
“There are many contributing factors to someone’s addiction to tobacco, and although smoking rates in Scotland have gone down overall, there is still a big gap between the most deprived areas (25% of people smoking) and the least deprived areas (7% of people smoking).
“ASH Scotland reports that households in the lowest income group in Scotland spend nearly 30% of their income on tobacco, highlighting how strong tobacco addiction can be and the extra support required for people to stop.
“Having that conversation to make people who smoke aware of our service and the support we offer can change their lives both physically and financially.”
For those who can’t refer via SCI Gateway, there are alternative ways to refer to the service. All health professionals can refer patients to the local Quit Your Way helpline by calling 01698 754 888, Monday to Friday.
The local Lanarkshire helpline is where you can get assistance with queries for all staff in regards to patients stopping smoking, including:
- Taking referrals
- Provide behavioural support to clients who are motivated to stop smoking (as required)
- Advise on pharmacotherapy products available to support quitting
For acute staff who use the MNAAT to refer patients, this is available to order from PECOS using code LAT538.
All health professionals can find out more on our FirstPort page.
