Friday 23 September 2016
Quitline is encouraging smokers in Guernsey to take up the Stoptober Challenge to stop smoking for 28 days from the 1st October.
Free support along with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches gum, lozenges and inhalators), where appropriate, is offered to individuals or groups who want to sign up to the challenge.
The easiest & most successful way to stop smoking is with a combination of support and medication all of which is provided free from the Specialists at Guernsey Quitline.
Andrea Tostevin, Quitline Coordinator said
"The hugely successful Public Health England campaign is back for a fifth year. There are both health and financial benefits to stopping smoking for 28 days, a twenty a day smoker in Guernsey will save nearly £200 by completing the challenge. There is also evidence that anyone stopping smoking for 28 days is 5 times more likely to go on and stop for good. Stoptober provides a great opportunity for groups of friends, family or work colleagues to take on the challenge together, support each other and perhaps use the money saved for a special occasion, to arrange a social event or support a favourite charity."
Stopping smoking remains the best thing any smoker can do for their health as smoking still remains the greatest preventable cause of ill health and death. Health benefits start as soon as a smoker stops and those benefits continue, as do the huge financial benefits with 20 a day smokers setting fire to around £2,300 each year.
The start of the challenge on 1st October this year also ties in with the launch of new smokefree policies for both Health & Social Care & Education with all sites becoming totally smokefree. For anyone wanting to stop smoking, to take on the Stoptober challenge, or to have support to manage cravings while on the new smokefree sites help is available from Quitline.
Regular clinics, where no appointment is needed, are held as follows:
- The Princess Elizabeth Hospital Monday to Saturday
- Guille Alles Library in town on Wednesday
In addition Quitline Advisors can offer 1 to 1 appointments as follows:
- Princess Elizabeth Hospital or Oberlands -Visit patients in wards or departments
Appointments for individuals or groups (by arrangement) in a variety of locations including, in the workplace, at La Nouvelle Maritaine in the Vale, the meeting rooms at Sir John Leale Avenue in St Sampsons & Rue Clouet in the Bouet, St Peter Port.
For further information on any of the support provided by Quitline, if you would like posters to advertise Stoptober or to book an appointment for a group or an individual please contact Quitline on 233170 or email quitline@gov.gg. Information on regular clinics can be found on our website www.gsyquitline.com and further online support for Stoptober can be found at