Debbie Peel, 48, had tried quitting smoking many times over the years. But, with her health becoming increasingly affected and her asthma getting worse, she sought support and accessed the Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) Stop Smoking programme. This programme led to Debbie successfully stopping smoking and she is now noticing great improvements in her health.
At a routine appointment with her Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Debbie decided to ask if there was any help available for stopping smoking. She had been smoking on and off for 25 years, with each attempt at quitting lasting only a few months. Debbie was then referred to WBFL where she met her practitioner Jules, Community Connector at the service.
At their first appointment together, Jules laid out all the support Debbie could receive. “She talked me through everything very clearly and was very supportive,” Debbie said. They used the session to discuss what was best for Debbie, what direction the support should take and to decide on a quit date to get the outcome Debbie was seeking.
The Stop Smoking programme with WBFL is 12 weeks with a specially trained Stop Smoking Advisor. Being face-to-face, it is designed to bring support and advice at each stage of the client’s quitting journey. It also includes a free 12-week prescription of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), with the option to choose vapes, patches, lozenges or gum.
After the two met and carried out an assessment to see what Debbie smokes and how many, they set a course to make sure the programme was tailor-made for her. Debbie chose lozenges and vapes for her NRT option to assist her in becoming smoke-free. They also did weekly Carbon Monoxide (CO) tests to measure the levels of CO in her lungs.
At the time of writing, Debbie has stopped smoking for over three months. She already feels so much healthier and is not having to rely as much on her inhalers to treat her asthma symptoms.
“I have to say a big thank you to Jules who was there for me every step of the way with support and encouragement,” Debbie said.
Jules said of Debbie’s fantastic progress: “Debbie has done amazing! I’m so proud of her… she is loving her new fresh no smoking life, can breathe much better and her purse has benefitted too.”
You are much more likely to quit smoking with face-to-face support from a trained advisor, and Debbie’s journey shows just that.
Debbie has a message for anyone considering stopping: “I would say to anyone thinking about taking that step and stopping smoking to do it, and with the help from smoking cessation (WBFL Stop Smoking support), you soon could be a non-smoker like I am now.”
Wellbeing for Life is part of Adult Wellbeing Services, delivered in partnership by Pioneering Care Partnership and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
