Patients admitted to The QEH overnight will now be offered personalised support from a dedicated Tobacco Dependency Advisor, who will provide behavioural advice, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and a smooth handover to community stop smoking services upon discharge. The new pathway, currently in place across several wards, is a significant step forward in helping patients make lasting changes to improve their health.
This initiative builds on The QEH’s commitment to becoming a smokefree hospital, after signing the national Smokefree NHS Pledge in October 2023. As of 13 March 2024, The QEH became a smokefree site, joining other NHS organisations in taking action to tackle the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the UK.
Rebecca Martin, Medical Director at The QEH, said: “Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death, and by helping people quit, we can significantly reduce hospital admissions, improve recovery, and support healthier lives. When patients are admitted to hospital it provides a crucial opportunity to talk to them about their smoking and the risks to their health.
“By launching this new pathway during Stoptober, and by becoming a smokefree site last year, we are taking meaningful steps to support the health of our patients, staff and local community. Smoking is an addiction that requires the right treatment and support – and we are now better equipped than ever to provide that.”
Ella Goodwin, the Trust’s new Tobacco Dependency Advisor, added: “Many people want to stop smoking but don’t always know where to start, especially when they’re unwell. Being in hospital can be a real turning point. We’re here to offer the right support at the right time – and help people take that important first step toward quitting for good.”
Patients who smoke and are admitted to the hospital are to be offered NRT during their stay, and vaping is permitted in clearly designated areas to support cessation efforts. These changes are part of The QEH’s wider strategy to reduce smoking prevalence and improve health outcomes across the region.
For more information about the Trust’s smokefree policy and support services, please visit the hospital’s website: Smokefree QEH | The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
- Hospital admissions – Smoking Profile – Data | Fingertips | Department of Health and Social Care
- Smoking prevalence (one year range) – Smoking Profile – Data | Fingertips | Department of Health and Social Care
- NHS Tobacco Dependency Programme – NHS England » Tobacco dependency programme
- NICE Guideline 209 – Treating tobacco dependence | Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence | Guidance | NICE
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