Welcome
Welcome to our summer SmokeFree Hull Newsletter, packed with lots of useful tips, service updates and projects, as well as the myths and facts of vaping, and a healthy summer recipe to support you on your smokefree journey during the sunny months.
Service Update
Service Manager Tracy
Stopping the start: A new plan to create a smokefree generation
The government recently announced additional funding for local authorities as part of ‘stop the start’. By introducing this, the aim is to see the number of people who quit smoking double over the next five years. In turn this will help the government to achieve its aim that England will be smoke free by 2030.
Data over the last 5 years shows most smokers want to quit, but cannot, due to an addiction to nicotine that started in their teenage years. Over 80% of smokers started before they turned 20, many as children.
Even though smoking rates in Hull have reduced over the years, Hull continues to have one of the highest smoking rates across the country. Recent government figures put Hull as having the second-highest smoking rate, with more than one in five people - 20.49% on average, having smoked in the last three years.
This additional funding will allow SmokeFree Hull to build on current support offered to the residents of Hull, work closer with community partners, and be creative and more innovative when engaging with people who smoke.
Look out for future updates!!
Meet the team
We extend a warm welcome to two new members of staff to our service.
Fatima is part of our Administration team and will be one of the first people you speak to when contacting the service.
Tanya is a SmokeFree Advisor who will be offering tailored one to one support to you and encouraging you throughout your SmokeFree journey.
Both come to the service with years of knowledge and experience, and we love having them as part of the team!!
Meet the team
SmokeFree Advisor Tanya
- What do you like to do to in your spare time?
I like going to the Gym, hiking, binging TV series, food, house interiors and anything to do with wellbeing and skincare.
- If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This I cannot answer! I have a very eclectic taste in music.
- What job did you want to do when you were younger?
I wanted to be a professional athlete.
- Why do you enjoy working as a stop smoking advisor?
I have always loved working with the public supporting them with their needs. I am an ex-smoker myself and used a stop smoking service many years ago, they were so supportive in my journey of quitting for good, so now I know what a difference I can make supporting others too.
- What’s your favourite food?
Italian and Thai.
- Do you have any pets, and what are their names?
I have a house cat called Coco, who is my everything.
- If you could pick up a new skill or hobby in an instant, what would it be?
Play a musical instrument.
- What would be your idea of a dream holiday?
To travel around a country for a few weeks, then to finish off on an idyllic beach holiday to relax.
Workforce project success
Our smokefree workforce project helps staff become healthy and smokefree at work, but also increases work productivity within local businesses too.
Currently 18.9% of adults smoke in Hull, costing local businesses £116.4 Million in 2023 in productivity losses. With stopping smoking initiatives now on the government’s agenda, companies can reinforce their commitment to staff health with our FREE smoking awareness sessions, staff training and onsite clinics.
Our support helps companies:
- Increase work performance and productivity.
- Reduce staff sickness, turnover, and exposure to second hand smoke.
- Build a culture of care and increase work and life satisfaction.
- Reduce workplace cleaning and maintenance costs.
Training and onsite clinics
We offer free awareness sessions, and bespoke training about the health effects of smoking and the benefits of quitting, as well as the treatments and support available from our specialist stop smoking service.
We can then offer onsite clinics at the company’s venue, to support staff to quit, plus telephone support as part of our 12-week treatment programme.
We’ve had great success with this project at Siemens in Hull, with 6 quits from their onsite clinic in the last 6 months already.
Anthony quit smoking after hearing about a friend start his smokefree journey at the Siemen’s clinic and is now proud to say he’s smokefree too.
Anthony’s story
“I turn 60 soon, and I’ve been smoking for far too long. I was 21 years old when I started, as I was initially working away at sea, and it was part of the culture in the mid-80s. You just got drawn into it, it was part of being the crew, as they all smoked.
Before that I was into running, I don’t even know why I even started, but when I went out to pubs it was also part of the social life too.
I was influenced by others back then, and it was so much cheaper to smoke as well. You could get them on board the ship, duty free. Even when I worked on the docks, after leaving the Royal Navy, I could still get them cheaply, so I just carried on the habit.
I tried to stop before, 30 years ago, but it didn’t really last. I wasn’t very committed to be honest. I was still in my 30s, or late 20s, and being younger then, I didn’t think about how it would affect me later in life, you think you’re immortal at that age.
Then when vapes started coming out 10 years ago, I gave that a go, but that didn’t last - going cold turkey didn’t work either.
I first engaged with the stop smoking service a year ago, and I had patches and gum, but my willpower faded in time, so it didn’t stick.
I feel different this time though, it was the right time for me, given my age, and my recent NHS tests. I had a lung health check and I discovered that I have early signs of emphysema, which could develop into COPD, so I knew I needed to do something about it this time.
My dad smoked since he was 10 years old, and he gave up for his health too. He struggled to breathe eventually, and that really made me think.
I was starting to cough all the time, as my lung capacity was reduced. I was always cold, or unwell too. It really gave me the kick up the backside to carry on with the programme. Now it doesn’t take as long to get over infections as it used to. I feel more energised, and it’s having a positive effect on my mental health too.
I’m doing everything I can to be healthier now, and I’m going to start going to Park Run and cycling, to build up more exercise like I used to do. I’m 7 weeks smokefree now, and I’ve got to the point where I have more confidence to get out there and do things.
My SmokeFree Advisor Chelsea has been so supportive, I have a phone call or face to face appointment every week, and it feels different from when I’ve tried to quit before. It is an addiction, so the support is essential. It’s so hard to do cold turkey, so the support is vital for you to succeed.
Siemens have been so supportive and allowed me to leave work to attend the appointments, and my team leader, and all of my work colleagues, including Mike Batty have helped me too. They all understand health is important.
I read Mike’s story and knew I could do it as well, as we’ve all got the same challenges. It was somebody to look up to and made me want to commit as well!
All the team have been inspiring me to quit and asking how it’s going; it even gets a mention in the town hall meetings. I know there’s no going back now!
Even with the shift patterns at work, I was still able to get to my appointments, Chelsea was very accommodating, and there was always a time slot for me.
Chelsea would explain the risks of smoking, not in a frightening way, but being supportive. Telling me what can happen in later life. She has a nice attitude, and it’s almost like therapy. It put me in the right frame of mind to quit. The CO readings were great too, being able to visualise your lungs, turning from black to pink was a great resource, creating a picture in your mind of your lungs. At each stage that I passed, it helped keep my willpower up.
But I think you have to want to do it too. Willpower is a strong thing, whether you take products or go cold turkey, the willpower is the key, and you must have your own reasons for stopping.
It’s also down to your own family circumstances, as it’s harder if you don’t have the right support. It’s a long road to take, but you’re improving your length of life.
I would recommend the service as it’s a plus for me. You have to make that first step, then get the support from SmokeFree Hull.
Even society is changing, the government are trying to help people stop smoking, and there’s more of a focus on it. The benefits of quitting, out way anything else, or looking cool.”
If you would like to find out more email [email protected] or call 01482 977617 for more information.
Get your workforce, up to full force
Myths and facts about vaping
Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and is proven to be one of the most successful quitting aids to help you stop smoking. Public health research states that it’s 95% safer than smoking tobacco, which is why we use it in our service as a ‘swap to stop’ stop smoking product.
There is lots of misinformation surrounding vapes and cigarettes within the media, so we thought we’d put your minds at ease to separate the facts from the myths.
Myth: Vaping is just as harmful as smoking.
Fact: Vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes, as it doesn’t contain tobacco, carcinogens, or other harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. Switching completely to vaping, from smoking, significantly reduces exposure to toxins associated with cancer, lung disease, heart disease and strokes.
Myth: Nicotine is very harmful to health
Fact: Although nicotine is addictive, it is relatively harmless to your health. It is the many other toxic chemicals contained in tobacco smoke that cause almost all the harm from smoking.
Myth: Exposure to vapour from a vape is harmful to others.
Fact: Secondhand smoke from a cigarette causes serious harm to others, there is no evidence so far that vaping is harmful to those around you.
Myth: People vape more than they smoke – that must be worse.
Fact: Each puff on a vape carries a small fraction of the risks of a puff on a cigarette. Vaping generally takes longer for nicotine to reach the brain and the user needs to use it more frequently. The puffing behaviour of the user determines the level of nicotine taken into the body.
The volume is usually 2 mls – so a possible 40mg of nicotine (before it’s vaped) is contained in a vape, compared with approx. 10mgs of nicotine in an unburnt tobacco cigarette, meaning that a pack of 20 cigs = 200mgs nicotine (before it’s smoked).
Myth: Vaping is swapping one harmful addiction for another.
Fact: While vapes contain the same addictive substance as cigarettes, i.e. Nicotine, vaping nicotine is far less harmful than smoking tobacco.
Myth: Vapes are not regulated and we do not know what is in them.
Fact: In the UK, vaping products are tightly regulated for safety and quality. If you’re using a vape always buy from a reputable vape store, and avoid disposable vapes.
However, it is important to note, that vaping is not completely risk free. We only recommend using a vape for adult smokers to support them quitting smoking, and staying quit.
If you want to learn more about vaping, there is a great video from Yorkshire Cancer Research called Vaping Demystified.
Recipes
Staying healthy and smokefree means more than just stopping smoking. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and can help you feel at your best too.
In the summer there’s lots of fresh and healthy options to choose from, and our SmokeFree Hull Trainer Karen has a wonderful recipe to give you lots of energy and is easy to make too!
Sweet & Sour Salmon by our SmokeFree Hull Trainer Karen
Sweet and sour flavours are often found in Asian food, but they’re also a popular combination in Italy, where this recipe is from too.
It’s healthy, quick, only has a few ingredients and can be grilled or barbecued – perfect summer food!
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons runny honey
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
- 4 salmon fillets, skin removed.
- Make a marinade by whisking the vinegar and honey together in a non-metallic bowl. Add the oil slowly whilst whisking until combined. Stir in the garlic and parsley and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the salmon fillets in the marinade and cover with clingfilm. Leave for 15 minutes at room temperature making sure all sides get coated.
- Pre-heat the grill to high and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Remove the salmon from the marinade and grill for 6 – 8 minutes until the fish flakes easily – be careful not to overcook!
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you!
The service is continuously adapting and developing, to make sure we’re providing the best service possible.
Your opinion matters to us, so please complete the survey to let us know how we’re doing!