News
Powys Smoking Cessation Team
Powys Teaching Health Board Smoking Cessation Team are here to support smokers in Powys to quit and reach our ambition of a ‘Smoke-free Wales’ by 2030.
The team (pictured here) is led by Ceri Peate (far left), Clinical Lead for Smoking Cessation, and includes Smoking Cessation Advisors (from left to right) Kathryn Jones, Mary Ann Pryce and Alex Doran who work on different days and across the geography of Powys. The team have extensive experience in supporting smokers in their journey to becoming smoke-free and support individuals to quit smoking face-to-face or via telephone.
The support that the team provides can increase the chances of quitting up to 300% compared with going it alone! The service includes access to FREE nicotine replacement medication. The health benefits of stopping smoking are immediate. To anyone who has struggled to quit, do not feel alone - the service is on hand to support you.
Whether it is visiting a local Smoking Cessation Clinic, meeting with other people who are also quitting on a regular basis or having virtual or telephone calls with one of our trained Smoking Cessation Advisors, there is an option suitable for everyone who wishes to give up smoking. The Smoking Cessation team also work closely with pharmacies across Powys to ensure that clients using the service have as many options available to them as possible.
If you would like to refer someone into the service or if you have any queries, please email StopSmoking.Powys@wales.nhs.uk.
Alternatively, you can refer via a self-referral form at https://www.helpmequit.wales
NEW Online Public Health Guidance on Vaping/E-cigarettes for Schools and Colleges in Powys
In response to growing concern around an increase in the number of children and young people who are currently using e-cigarettes/vapes Powys Public Health Team would like to share NEW online Public Health Guidance on Vaping/E-cigarettes for Schools and Colleges in Powys to support young people to make good decisions about their health.
In Wales, recent data shows that 20.4% of people aged 11-16 have tried vaping, and in Powys 19.6% report that they’ve tried vaping.
Mererid Bowley, Director of Public Health, said “we have seen a steep increase in young people who have tried vaping across Powys. Many e-cigarettes contain highly addictive nicotine and other chemicals. We want to advise young people not to start vaping. Vaping is not harmless, with short-term effects of coughing, dizziness, sore throats and headaches being reported, and the long-term effects are not yet known. It is illegal to sell E-cigarettes to under 18s. If you are aware of retailers in your community selling any tobacco products or e-cigarettes to children under the age of 18, please report them to Trading Standards. You can do this by visting: NO IFS. NO BUTTS (noifs-nobutts.co.uk)”
The resource is being launched as a first step in supporting parents, teachers and other professionals working with young people to talk about the harms of vaping and how to access guidance and support. The launch of the resource follows a recent Strategic workshop involving a wide range of stakeholders looking at causes of increase in vaping, effects it is having in Powys and how to tackle vaping in Powys. The workshop was part of the Tobacco Control Strategic Group Meeting organised by Powys Public Health team. Attendants of the workshop reported that the workshop was fascinating, and attendants were full of energy and enthusiasm for action to tackle vaping in Powys.
The Powys Tobacco Control Steering Group and Tackling Vaping subgroup will direct further work in coming months to support parents, teachers and other professionals working with young people to talk to young people about the harms of vaping and how to access guidance and support.
Please feel free to share the link to the guidance widely with partner organisations, colleagues and members of the public in Powys who will find this helpful and look out for further resources to be developed soon.
Page last reviewed: 11 April 2022
Page created: 11 April 2022
Page created: 11 April 2022