Quit Club for Tiverton smokers

SMOKERS in Tiverton who are thinking about giving up the habit in the New Year are being offered a helping hand with the opening of an NHS-led quit club.

The Tiverton Stop Smoking Club is free to join and will run for six weeks, starting on Tuesday 5 January.

The club will meet at Old Heathcoat School Community Centre in King Street from 6pm to 7pm each Tuesday until 9 February.

Those attending will receive friendly support from a local NHS specialist adviser from the Devon Stop Smoking Service.

People can receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including patches or gum, and stop smoking medication on prescription.

There will also be information on weight management and nutrition, ideas on how to deal with stress, help with understanding nicotine addiction and overcoming smoking triggers, carbon monoxide readings and much more.

Specialist adviser Denise Veen, who is leading the club, said people could receive lots of hints and tips to stay smokefree in 2016.

She said: “Quitters find stop smoking clubs helpful as they are able to swap ideas and experiences with likeminded people and support each other.”

To join the club, call the stop smoking service on 01884 836024 or e-mail ndht.hpd@nhs.net.

The service forms part of Health Promotion Devon, a specialist arm of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Its advisers support around 1,000 people to quit smoking each year and their success rates are among the best in the country.

For more information, visit www.healthpromotiondevon.nhs.uk.