Kicking the habit: Hackney residents get free help to quit smoking

Smokers who sign-up for the in-store NHS stop smoking service will have access to free stop smoking medication such as nicotine replacement therapy, as well as support

Hackney and the City smokers who want to quit are being offered free nicotine patches and gum by signing up to the free NHS Stop Smoking Service through local pharmacies.

Fifty-four Hackney and City pharmacies are offering the free medication on top of the usual free counselling service. Smokers who what to quit and sign-up for the instore NHS Stop Smoking service will be given free medication for up to 12 weeks.

Smoking prevalence in Hackney is 19%. Reaserch shows that many Hackney and City smokers are concerned about the cost of using NRT and other stop smoking medication.

NHS City and Hackney Joint Director of Public Health, Dr Lesley Mountford said: “Research shows that price can be a barrier to quitting for some smokers. Extending this price promotion will help make quitting that little bit easier and introduce local residents and workers to the NHS Stop Smoking support services available in Hackney and the City.”

“We ran a very successful campaign last January which helped over 500 people quit smoking.”

Pharmacies that offer Stop Smoking services in Hackney and the City can be found here, and can be easily identified by a distinctive ‘QUIT HERE’ green dot.

The promotion, which began in January, has been extended until the end of this month or while stocks last.