The QUIT Programme is a new initiative which will transform the way tobacco addiction is tackled in our hospitals, offering patients who smoke access to effective treatments and support as part of their routine care.

Based on a successful, evidence-based programme in Ottawa, Canada, QUIT has the potential to save thousands of lives and hospital re-admissions across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, as well as reducing health inequalities.

  • Smoking is an addiction that often starts in childhood – NOT a lifestyle choice.

  • Tobacco addiction is a chronic, relapsing medical condition that prematurely kills at least half of those who smoke.

  • There are very effective treatments for tobacco addiction which save lives.

  • We believe that the NHS has a responsibility to treat smoking, just like any other disease.

About the QUIT Programme

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  • Barnsley - 18.3% of adults smoke. This is decreasing but still much higher than the national average of 13.9%.
  • Doncaster - 19.1% of adults smoke. This is much higher than the national average of 13.9% and has not decreased over the last 4 years.
  • Sheffield - 13.9% of adults Smoke. This is similar to the national average.
  • Rotherham - 17.8% of adults smoke. This is much higher than the national average of 13.9%
  • Bassetlaw - 15.7% of adults smoke. This is higher than the national average of 13.9%

Places taking part in QUIT

The national average of adults who smoke is 13.9%.

Barnsley –18.3% of adults smoke. 

Bassetlaw – 15.7% of adults smoke. 

Doncaster – 19.1% of adults smoke. 

Rotherham - 17.8% of adults smoke. 

Sheffield – 13.9% of adults Smoke. 

Figures taken from 2019 Annual Population Survey.

 

To find out more about smoking rates and its impact on health in your area visit Public Health England’s Local Tobacco Control Profiles click here

196,000 adults smoke in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. More than half of those people will die prematurely from smoking related illness, losing on average 10 years of life.

Despite having effective treatments to treat tobacco addiction, smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable early death in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

The NHS has responsibility to treat smoking just as we would other diseases and treating tobacco addiction is one of the most effective treatments that the NHS can offer. 

Hospitals are in an ideal position to start people’s treatment for tobacco addiction.

  • Smoking causes over 16 different types of cancer and one in four cancer deaths in the North of England.

  • Half of the health gap between the poorest and most affluent communities is due to smoking.

  • We spend over £26m a year on smoking-related hospital admissions in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

  • Parental smoking nationally causes more than 6,000 deaths each year in children under 19 & increases the risk of children being admitted to hospital.

  • Children who are exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to smoke themselves when they are older.

  • Smoking or exposure to second hand smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of still births, low birth weight & sudden infant death.

QUIT is being implemented in all eight acute, mental health and children’s NHS Trusts across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw as part of a broader Healthy Hospitals Programme.

Every hospital site across the region is working towards being completely smoke-free.

Nurses will offer anyone admitted to hospital who smokes very brief advice about the support and treatment available and offer all patients aged 12 and over nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) on an opt-out basis as part of their routine hospital care.

NRT - such as skin patches, gum, inhalers, tablets, lozenges and sprays – are very effective in managing unpleasant nicotine withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings and agitation.

People admitted to specialist mental health services will also have the option of vaping products to help them manage cravings and increase their chances of stopping smoking during hospital stays that can last several months.

QUIT also offers advice and support to the parents of children admitted to children’s hospitals in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw who smoke.

Thanks to funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research, each hospital now has a team of specialist Tobacco Treatment Advisors. They will see all patients who smoke while they are in hospital. Their role involves:

  • Checking whether patients are having any withdrawal symptoms
  • Suggesting any changes needed to tobacco treatment medications
  • Advising and helping to plan ongoing, community-based stop smoking support and medications for patients after they leave hospital
  • Providing support and treatment to all NHS staff who smoke

To help doctors and nurses deliver QUIT, all NHS Trusts in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw now have a Healthy Hospital Programme Manager and a Health Improvement Manager who will work with their Tobacco Treatment Advisors.

“The QUIT programme means that we can now start to support people to stop smoking while they are in hospital. By working together with our local community services we can ensure that this support is continued once they leave hospital.
 

“By helping people to stop smoking, we will be improving the health of the population of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw which will help people to live longer and healthier lives. By keeping people healthy, they will need less access to healthcare and can help the NHS use resources efficiently.”

Professor Des Breen
Professor Des Breen
Medical Director, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System

 

QUIT for Patients
QUIT for Patients

As well as providing tobacco addiction treatment and specialist support for people who have been admitted to all Hospitals in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, we also:

  • Provide very brief advice and information about local community stop smoking services for people who smoke who come to A&E and outpatient clinics
  • Specialist tobacco treatment advisor support for patients attending some outpatient clinics
  • Specialist tobacco treatment advisor support for people using secondary care mental health services

QUIT for Parents
QUIT for Parents 

Helping parents quit smoking is important for both their own health and their children’s. We will offer specialist advice to parents of children who have been admitted and help them get ongoing tobacco addiction treatment and support from their local community stop smoking services

QUIT for Staff
QUIT for Staff

On site specialist support from tobacco treatment advisors and free medications and support for NHS Trust staff who would like to QUIT

Smoke Free Hospital
QUIT for a smoke free hospital

Promoting a smoke free environment for staff, patients and visitors.
Treating patients’ tobacco addiction will help us achieve this.

What Does QUIT Stand For Diagram FINAL.jpg

“Most of our service users who smoke want to stop. We know that people with serious mental illness die up to 20 years younger and that smoking is a major contributor to this. 

“What is great about QUIT is that we will have specialist advisors on site to help integrate tobacco addiction treatment into our service users’ routine care. We are really looking forward to making a positive difference to the health of everyone in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.”

Dr Mike Hunter
Dr Mike Hunter
Medical Director, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust