Free vapes for staff and service users looking to quit smoking

Working in partnership with Yorkshire Cancer Research, the QUIT team in Barnsley are starting a trial to help staff and patients quit smoking through the use of vapes.

Free vapes will be available to staff and service users for a period of 12 weeks. Yorkshire Cancer Research are funding the trial so all vapes will be offered free of charge to inpatients and community mental health patients in Barnsley, and staff working at Kendray hospital or within a community mental health team in Barnsley.

The QUIT team acknowledge that quitting smoking can be a huge challenge and are committed to providing tailored support to people who access their tobacco treatment service. Nicotine dependency is a harmful disease that can shorten people’s life expectancy and negatively affect their health.

Yorkshire Cancer Research and the QUIT team recognise the scientific link between smoking and harmful cancer cases and are committed to supporting people to take the life changing step to quit their smoking habit.

Dr Subha Thiyagesh, chief medical officer at the Trust, commented: “I’m really pleased to see that the QUIT team and Yorkshire Cancer Research are working together to help people to quit smoking. It is great that people will be able to access free vapes over a period of 12 weeks. I look forward to hearing the positive results of the trial, which we anticipate will help people to stop smoking.”

The QUIT team also offer wrap around support to staff and service users in Barnsley.  For example, they provide support and advice to people who are undertaking the challenge to quit smoking.  The QUIT team provide a bespoke tobacco treatment service that specialises in working with patients with severe mental illness and tailors support to each individual.

If you would like to access their support, contact 01226 644130 or quitbarnsley.oakwellunit@swyt.nhs.uk