After being discharged, the patient is then referred to a community pharmacy where they can continue their stop smoking journey with up to 12-weeks of support, which includes regular carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring – a simple breath test that shows the change in CO levels in a person’s body when they stop smoking.

During the last 12 months the scheme, ran by Royal Oldham Hospital and local community pharmacies, has supported 81 patients, 57% stayed smokefree for four weeks and 37% of those recorded being smokefree after 12 weeks. Following its success in Oldham, plans are now underway to rollout the scheme across England as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to offer tobacco treatment services to all hospital inpatients by 2023/24.

Claire Smith, Director of Nursing & Quality at NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Quitting smoking before surgery and staying smokefree can help speed up recovery and reduce the risk of serious complications such as blood clots or infections.

“This partnership between hospitals and community pharmacies makes it easier for people to stay smokefree and stick with their quit plan once they return home from hospital. I am delighted that Oldham has been able to lead the way and the scheme will now be implemented across the country, helping many more people quit smoking and improve their health.”

One of the pharmacies that took part in the pilot was Lees Road Pharmacy, which has supported dozens of people to quit, including 60-year-old retiree, Bilal Sarwar*, who managed to quit after smoking for almost 50 years.

A smoker since age 11, he didn’t believe cigarettes were causing him harm so continued to smoke, even after suffering a heart attack. But after learning he needed an operation, Mr Sarwar was persuaded to give quitting a go and given a prescription of nicotine patches and spray to relieve his nicotine cravings.

Mr Sarwar was then referred to Lees Road Pharmacy in March 2021 and 12-weeks later he had successfully quit for good.

He said: “All the people who supported me were wonderful and very helpful every step of the way. Nadia from the pharmacy built both my confidence and my purpose. She made me believe I could stop smoking and made me see that if I did quit it would prolong my life and give me more time with my grandchildren – they are the whole world for me.

“Nadia was compassionate, and a good listener, and it was her encouragement that I needed to stop smoking. Giving up has helped me in lots of ways – my health is improved; my breathing is better, and people tell me I look healthier now. I am very proud of myself for stopping smoking and have lots of gratitude for the people who have supported me. If I can stop smoking, anyone can if they have the right people and the right support.”

Nadia Hussain, supervisor at Lees Road Pharmacy said: “As we get to know our customers and speak to them regularly, they trust us to help them continue their stop smoking journeys. It’s great to hear success stories like Mr Sarwar, who has experienced such a difference to his life since stopping smoking.

“We will continue to support patients who are referred to us after quitting smoking in hospital as the benefits to the patient are tremendous and it is a great opportunity for community pharmacies to work with the hospital to support patients in this way.”

Visit www.makesmokinghistory.co.uk to get free access to the latest quitting aids, apps, information, one-to-one advice, and local support in Greater Manchester.

 

*Name has been changed