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Stop smoking service helps Devon mums-to-be give babies best start in life
A specialist NHS service in the South West is already helping nearly 50 mums-to-be to quit smoking just two months after it began. Since the new Treating Tobacco Dependency Service was launched by Torbay and South Devon NHS Maternity Services in June, 46 pregnant women and birthing people, have sought support for the service through their midwives.
The service is run by Katie Aston, Smoke Free Pregnancy Support Worker and, and Hannah O’Sullivan, Public Health Midwife. They provide advice and support to help pregnant people quit smoking such as using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), e-cigarettes and behavioural support, and electronic checks to test their exposure to carbon monoxide, which is a harmful chemical present in cigarette smoke.
Smoking in pregnancy carries serious health risks. Carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the placenta and baby, which can lead to women going into labour early as well as increasing the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death.
Smoke Free Pregnancy Support Worker Katie said: “The best part of the service is being able to help pregnant women and people straight away and offer NRT there and then. Personally, the most enjoyable and rewarding part of my work is meeting and helping those who wouldn’t normally either use traditional stop smoking services or have not thought about quitting and supporting them to succeed.”
Source: Devon Live, 16 August 2022
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Only one dedicated service to help smokers quit addiction in Rotherham
A study conducted by online retailer, Vapekit, has found Rotherham has just one dedicated quitting service for nearly 40,000 smokers — but health officials insist support went well beyond this.
Rotherham Council and the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust have said advice and support is in place for smokers, with particular help for those who are pregnant.
Earlier this year, the Advertiser reported how Rotherham’s higher-than-average numbers of smokers were costing the local economy more than £100 million a year. According to ASH, 17.8% of adults in the borough are smokers, compared with 13.8% nationally.
ASH deputy chief executive Hazel Cheeseman said local councils must “seize the initiative and create plans for their communities that account for the tremendous burden caused by smoking”.
Rotherham’s director for public health Ben Anderson said: “Throughout the year, the council engages with residents to promote healthier lifestyles and offers advice on how to quit smoking through accessing services available.” […]
“We have seen, over the last few years, a fantastic result in the number of pregnant mothers stopping smoking thanks to the hard work from Rotherham Hospital’s maternity services.”
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s Smoking in Pregnancy Service is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, after growing from one midwife in 2002 to a lead midwife, three smoking in pregnancy midwives and two stop smoking advisors.
Latest statistics from the trust reveal 12.8% of pregnant women were smokers at the time of delivery in 2021/2022 — down from nearly 20% in 2017/2018.
Source: Rotherham Advertiser, 16 August 2022
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Patients “need to know” about services changing at GPs and pharmacies
Patients in Bolton should have the right to know about major changes being planned for GP and pharmacy services across the area, it has been argued.
Planned changes aim to take some of the pressure off GP surgeries by expanding the role of high street pharmacies, allowing them to carry out cancer checks, and play bigger roles in weight management, diabetes management and getting people to stop smoking.
The changes will also allow mental health experts to book appointments for patients. However, a leading Bolton councillor says people must be consulted at a local level.
Bolton health scrutiny committee chair Cllr Sue Haworth said: “With waiting lists for both hospital outpatients and in-patient care we know this adds to the demand for primary care appointments in the community.”
Source: The Bolton News, 17 August 2022
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Group defends hiring man as period dignity officer
A group in Tayside has defended its decision to appoint a man as a period dignity officer.
The hiring of Jason Grant – a former account manager with Imperial Tobacco – sparked a heated online debate, with critics saying the job should have gone to a woman.
Mr Grant will work with the area's period dignity working group to implement the legal right to free period products in public settings.
Mr Grant is expected to lead a regional campaign across schools, colleges and wider communities to raise awareness of the new law and ensure that Scottish government funding is allocated appropriately.
Source: BBC News, 16 August 2022
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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