Our New Me, New... me campaign is well into January.

Last week consultant Janet Youd shared why she's doing Dry January (she's still dry, though eating lots of Haribos!) and this week it's support to stop smoking. 

As we lead up to No Smoking Day on March 13th, and we move toward being a smoke free Trust by June, we'll be giving lots of support and guidance to colleagues and patients who'd like to quit smoking. We will also be offering colleagues a carbon monoxide testing - a simple breath test which shows how much carbon monoxide is in your body. Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of healthy oxygen circulating in your body. Sister Zoe Mason-Tinto from our Occupational Health team is pictured testing it out with non-smoker HCA Louise Wilson.  

As soon as you stop smoking, your body feel the benefits as soon as after 20 minutes. 

Buying a couple of packs of cigarettes a week an easily add up to over £1,000 a year.

People also stop smoking for the health of your family, if they are pregnant or trying for a baby. 

Info:

  • There are 4000 chemicals in cigarettes.
  • .A carbon monoxide breath test gives the reading on both your breath and your blood. 
  • When you smoke a cigarette and inhale the smoke, you breathe in carbon monoxide which is then absorbed through the lungs into the blood stream.
  • Because of carbon monoxide, smokers are more at risk of heart attacks and stroke.
  • The good news is that when you stop smoking your carbon monoxide levels drop very quickly. In 24 to 48 hours your carbon monoxide levels go back to the level of a non-smoker.

Our Trust like all others is due to be smoke free by this June - so take a look at our intranet pages to see what support is on offer and how we're planning ahead to clear the air by going smoke free.

Our Occupational Health Team, is working closely with other colleagues, CHS and our councils and Yorkshire Smokefree Service to make sure the support and advice is available for everyone who wants to quit.

Colleague Health and Wellbeing is part of The Cupboard - and its helping us create ‘One Culture of Care’. Take a look at the recipe card here.