A poster highlighting free NHS stop smoking services will be in every community pharmacy in Scotland from next week. The brand ‘Quit Your Way – with our support’ was created after research by Health Scotland found smoking cessation services should have one national identity to improve uptake.
NHS Inform’s Smokeline has already rebranded as Quit Your Way Scotland and all health boards will have adopted the identity by Stop Smoking Day on 15 March.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “We know lots of people are making new year’s resolutions – to get fit, to be more healthy or perhaps to give up smoking. And with stop smoking services now accepted as being twice as effective as do-it-yourself, there’s no better time to highlight the free support the NHS can offer.
“This is a real team effort – with NHS Scotland services, pharmacists and third sector partners all working together we can help more people to stop smoking and continue to make progress towards our ambition of creating a tobacco-free generation by 2034.
“Stopping smoking is one of the most important steps a person can take to improve their health – so I’d urge anyone who has been thinking about giving up to take that first step and quit their way.”
Chief Executive of ASH Scotland Sheila Duffy said: “New Year is a time when many people choose to make a fresh start, and it’s a great time to quit smoking. There is no one way that works for everyone but your GP, pharmacist or the Quit Your Way Scotland website can offer free advice tailored for you that might really help.
“Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried to quit before, it can take a number of attempts to stop smoking successfully. If you’re not ready to quit right now, there are still positive things that you can do – like deciding to take smoking right outside, and make your home smoke-free.”
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