Find out how you can get help in Hartlepool in the campaign to stop smoking

Staff in centralised outpatients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust will highlight a different health topic each month.

The displays will be positioned in public waiting areas at both the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool and will include information about advice and support on offer.

The focus this month is on the Trust’s smoke-free status. It will also highlight the help available, including from the community stop smoking service.

Lisa Tomlinson is a nursing associate in centralised outpatients and is one of the Trust’s smoke-free champions.

Lisa, who oversees health promotion for the department, said: “So many patients, staff and visitors pass through these areas every day – making them the perfect place to display important information that could be useful to them.”

She added: “Sometimes just having that information available can help make a difference. When it comes to stopping smoking, I know through the champions training I have had that many smokers want to make that change but just do not know how to start.”

Lisa praised the initiative as “a real team effort” and added: “Staff from across the department have come together to organise displays in several of the waiting areas at both hospital sites.”

Rafeed Rashid, secondary care specialist stop-smoking advisor, said: “Thank you to all of the team in centralised outpatients for putting together these fantastic displays.

“Signposting smokers to the help which is out there is so important. It is the first step in helping them make that life changing decision to quit.

“Our community stop smoking team are here to support people in Stockton who want to make that positive change.”

People in Stockton can contact (01642) 383819, while Hartlepool residents can ring either (01429) 402814 or (01429) 402815 to find out more. The general national NHS Smokefree Helpline can be contacted on 0300 123 1044.

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