A smoke-free and ‘Appier you
We have partnered with Smoke Free to give NHS Lanarkshire staff who smoke additional support to quit, simply just by reaching into their pocket.
Previously piloted with acute staff, the programme is now open to any member of staff who is ready to quit smoking.
Those who register will receive 12-weeks free access to the Smoke Free app and will also be supported by a Lanarkshire pharmacy of their choice.
The app has supported half a million people in the UK to quit smoking and includes features such as:
- Guidance for managing cravings and withdrawals;
- Advice on stop smoking medications;
- Displays how long you have been smoke-free to the second;
- View your progress including money saved & health improvements
- All progress is up-to-date and done for you, including the number of cigarettes you have not smoked.
What’s needed to get started:
- A smartphone with access to either Google Play or App Store;
- Choose and set your quit date;
- Access to a Lanarkshire Pharmacy;
- Complete a short survey at the end of your 12 weeks.
The pilot project has been introduced as an additional support method while face-to-face stop smoking support cannot be offered due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mary Wilson, bank nurse, University Hospital Monklands Hospital, said:
“I am a retired ENT CNS having taken early retirement in 2019 (for a couple of weeks) and came back to work in ENT on staff bank two days a week thereafter. During my time in ENT (37 years) I have seen and been involved with many patients who have suffered smoking related head and neck disease.
“To be honest, I decided to stop smoking on a spur of the moment urge after seeing the Smoke Free app advert on my work email.
“I had smoked on and off since my early 20s but found since retiring and having more time on my hands, especially during lockdown and sometimes working from home, the amount of cigarettes I was smoking had increased and also was expensive.
“I didn’t tell anyone that I was thinking of stopping, not even my husband, until I had committed in case I backed out.
“I am now six weeks’ smoke-free having started on April Fool’s Day and I’m feeling very proud of myself. I have used the Smoke Free app and nicotine replacement patches on a daily basis so far with no issues. No one is more surprised than me at having achieved this so far.
“The app itself has lots of interesting and very helpful support areas to use as and when you want them. There isn’t any feeling of ‘I have to go on the app’ but it’s there if you want it and the daily check-ins (although I felt would be annoying at first) have been really helpful as was the daily missions.
“To date, I have saved over £400 and am continuing to deliberately put my cigarette money away daily and plan on doing something special with my savings at a later date. I feel better within myself, food tastes better and I don’t feel I have the lingering smell of cigarette smoke on my hair and clothes.”
To register your interest and find out more about taking part, email smokefreeapp@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
Find your nearest Lanarkshire Pharmacy.
