QUIT TEAM WORKS WITH PATIENTS

A PILOT project which helped patients quit smoking on Eastbourne DGH medical wards will soon be rolled out across the hospital.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Dec 2006, 14:37 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:50 BST

East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT spearheaded the initiative which saw the smoking cessation team offer one-to-one support to in-patients.

In partnership with East Sussex Hospitals, three wards '“ Berwick, Jevington and Folkington '“ started the pilot last September.

Lisa Gillette, who is leading on the scheme for the PCT said: 'At the beginning of 2007 all NHS premises will go smoke free and we want to prepare patients as much as we can for this change.

'We come in to see patients who want to quit and they have a range of support options '“ e-mail, phone, face to face.

'It's been a fantastic success to date and since September, I've seen 22 patients '“ 17 are in the process of quitting and five have quit already.'

Nicotine replacement therapy is prescribed free of charge.