STOP smoking services in Mid Devon exceed ?public expectations? according to a report published this week. Inspectors from the Healthcare Commission ranked services provided by Mid Devon Primary Care Trust ?which covers the Okehampton area ? as ?good?. The trust says more than 400 people kicked the habit with the NHS in Mid Devon last year ? an increase of a third compared to 2004/05. Becky Jenkins, director of public health at Mid Devon PCT, said she hoped many more people would consider giving up the habit ahead of the introduction of the smoking ban in public places next summer. ?Smoking is the number one cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK,? said Mrs Jenkins. ?The fact that hundreds more people in Mid Devon gave up on the NHS last year is good news for the area but we should never be complacent about the silent killer. ?There is still a great deal to do and we continue to do all we can to help people to quit.? The trust say almost two out of every three people who contacted NHS quit smoking services in the area stubbed out the cigarettes for good last year. Alongside group and one-to-one quit sessions, text, phone and e-mail support are all available. Tailored support sessions for businesses are also offered by the trust and quitters can access nicotine replacement therapy, patches or gum, through their local GP. The Healthcare Commission looked at the services offered at 303 primary care trust in the England under a national review of tobacco control and stop smoking services, with the vast majority securing a rating of ?good?. To contact the Mid Devon quit smoking service phone 01884 234484 or email [email protected]">[email protected]
