Patients offered free support to tackle tobacco addiction while in hospital
Patients across the boroughs of Rochdale, Oldham, Bury and Salford will be offered specialist support to manage tobacco addiction when they are admitted to hospital.
A comprehensive tobacco addiction treatment programme called the CURE Project is now being fully supported by hospitals run by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group and began to be rolled out at The Royal Oldham, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital and Salford Royal earlier this month.
Smoking tobacco is the single biggest cause of preventable death (one in two smokers die due to their smoking), illness, disability and social inequality in the United Kingdom. Stopping smoking is the single greatest thing that can be done to improve a smoker's health now and in the future.
Acute hospitals see a concentrated population of smokers due to the illnesses caused by smoking meaning hospitals provide an opportunity to offer highly effective treatment and support for smokers to stop.
Anyone who is admitted to hospital within the NCA Group, who is identified as a smoker, will be referred to the dedicated Tobacco Addiction team. They will receive support and advice on managing their addiction and will be offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as well as other medications to manage their cravings during their hospital stay. They will also be signposted to ongoing treatment and support once they leave hospital.
Dr Pete Turkington, Salford Royal Chief Officer, Medical Director and respiratory consultant, said: "Living smoke-free improves your health and wellbeing and of course your wealth.
"Our group of hospitals under the NCA is committed to supporting our staff and patients whatever their decision; whether it's simply abstaining while they are on our premises or whether they choose to use this as a positive opportunity to finally quit smoking for good.