WALTHAM FOREST: Campaign sees nearly 700 smokers get help to quit (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Campaign sees nearly 700 smokers get help to quit

2:19pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A CAMPAIGN to tackle smoking in the borough has seen nearly 700 people sign up for help to kick the habit.

Since March 1, teams from NHS Waltham Forest's Stop Smoking Service have been on the streets of the borough encouraging smokers to quit.

The teams visited supermarkets, shopping areas and Tube stations in the run up to No Smoking Day on March 10 and spoke to more than 8,000 people.

Stella Bailey, NHS Waltham Forest's public health programme manager, said: "The response has been excellent.

"Our street surgeries are a great way to encourage people to think about stopping smoking with the help and support of our advisors, drop-in clinics and pharmacists."

There are currently an estimated 40,000 smokers in the borough, which is about 18 per cent of the population.

Last year the borough's Stop Smoking Service helped 1,898 people to give up smoking, offering support including one-to-one meetings with an advisor and group sessions.

To contact the service, call 020 8928 2443.

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