NHS stop smoking service up for national award

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A move from a city centre office to Moor Market has helped Yorkshire Smokefree save cash and increased the number of quitters.

The service is provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of Sheffield City Council. It has been shortlisted in the ‘improving value through innovative financial management or procurement category’ of the HSJ (Health Service Journal) Value in Healthcare awards.

The team’s move from a city centre office to the Moor Market saw the Trust save over 70% and support almost 100 people in the three months following the move, a 6% increase from last year. 41.4% of clients have gone on to quit, well above the national average quit rate of 35%.

Their great work follows recent news that Yorkshire Smokefree services have helped one in five smokers to quit across the region over the last four years.

Yorkshire Smokefree Sheffield’s stand at Moor Market includes a private consulting area where clients can be seen on a “drop in” basis, as well as an opportunity to speak to staff and seek out advice on how best to quit smoking.

There are also leaflets and practical equipment available that further teach and show visitors and clients the negative effects of smoking on the body.

Visitors and ex-smokers have responded positively to the recent move into the city centre, with feedback averaging around 94%.

Maggie Milne, service manager at Yorkshire Smokefree Sheffield said, “Yorkshire Smokefree Sheffield’s presence at Moor Market has allowed us to keep providing fantastic support to local people who wish to quit smoking whilst also allowing us to reach out to those unfamiliar or previously unable to use our service.

“Many towns and cities have bustling markets which attract thousands of people daily – many of whom are waiting for the right support to help them to stop smoking.

“By looking to Yorkshire Smokefree, other services can see how you can continue to provide big successes on a small budget”.

It completes a successful year for Yorkshire Smokefree, and the Sheffield service.

Thanks to money saved, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have been able to provide more support to the team by purchasing laptops that allow the staff to work in an agile way and reach even more clients.

And in November Maggie was chosen by a panel of judges as the ‘leader of the year’ runner up at Excellence, the organisation’s internal staff awards.

Maggie continued: “It’s been a great year personally and also for the Yorkshire Smokefree Sheffield team.

“We look forward to helping even more local people quit smoking in 2017.”

Sheffield City Council have also began a campaign to encourage local smokers to “leave your patch on”, in homage to the Oscar nominated film, The Full Monty, based in Sheffield.

Find out more about Yorkshire Smokefree Sheffield on their website.

NHS stop smoking service up for national award

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