Bernie Neeson, Stop Smoking Specialist, UCF, is herself celebrating ten years smokefree on No Smoking Day and said, “As a former 30-a-day smoker I understand the challenges facing smokers. I tried to quit a few times and then I went to UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinic. They helped me recognise my smoking habits and empowered me to take control of my addiction and within weeks I had stopped smoking for good. 

 

“As well as the health benefits I have saved an astonishing £27,500 over the past ten years since stopping smoking. Smoking is an expensive habit and the money you could save is also a great incentive for smokers to give up.

 

Connswater Shopping Centre: UCF staff Naomi Thompson and Damien Maguire at the Ulster Cancer Foundation’s ‘STOP SHOP’ at Connswater Shopping Centre, Belfast. Shoppers were encouraged to hand over their cigarettes in exchange for a free ‘STOP SHOP’ goodie pack and on-the-spot support and advice. 

 

“I have now trained as a UCF Stop Smoking Specialist and a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist so I can use my experience and expertise to help other smokers give up and more importantly stay stopped. Stopping smoking is the most important thing that you can do to improve your health and at UCF we’re working more closely than ever with smokers who want to stop. We provide hints and tips on how to break the smoking habit and show smokers how to adopt effective and realistic techniques to cope with cravings. Our weekly stop smoking clinics are busier than ever and in the past year we have helped over 50% of those attending to stop smoking within four weeks.” 

 

UCF provide year round weekly stop smoking services in a number of settings including GP practices, community centres, schools and workplaces. These services are funded by the Public Health Agency (Eastern Area) and are free and confidential. Call the smokers helpline on 0800 85 85 85 for further information.

 

UCF is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Novartis Nicotinell for No Smoking Day 2010.