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Press releases
October 16 2006 Roy Castle Fag Ends comes to KnowsleyFrom today Knowsley people will be able to access Roy Castle Fag Ends, the successful community based stop smoking service, close to home. Roy Castle Fag Ends has helped nearly 15,000 Merseyside people quit smoking over the past 5 years and Knowsley believes their successful community based approach will appeal to local people and help them quit. With deaths from Lung Cancer 74% higher in Knowsley than nationally, smoking is the number one health priority in the borough. A recent study in Kirkby found that 42% of adults smoke. To combat the smoking problem Knowsley Health & Social Care has quadrupled funding for stop smoking services in the borough dedicating £1 million of core budget EVERY YEAR to reduce the number of smokers across the whole borough. Over the next 3 years Knowsley Health & Social Care and Roy Castle Fag Ends aim to help more than 5000 Knowsley people quit smoking. Knowsley Director of Public Health Dr Diana Forrest said: “It’s fantastic that Roy Castle Fag Ends are coming to Knowsley. Smoking is the biggest single cause of ill health and early death in the borough and we, and our colleagues at Roy Castle Fag Ends, are committed to doing everything we can to support local people to quit.” The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Head of Tobacco Control Christine Owens said: “Fag Ends sessions will be held all over Knowsley at the same time and in the same place every week, so people can drop in whenever they want. Because no two people are the same, every smoker needs different support to successfully quit. This is what makes the Fag Ends approach successful; we tailor our service to what each individual needs. The important thing for people to know is: we’re here and we can help!” FREEPHONE 0800 195 2131 for your nearest Roy Castle Fag Ends session in Knowsley *ends*
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Media enquiries to Knowsley Health & Social Care Communications Officer Eva Fleetwood on 0151 443 4918 or email Eva.Fleetwood@knowsley.nhs.uk NOTES TO EDITOR Casestudies Vera O’Hare from Aigburth “When I quit about 10 months ago I’d been smoking for 40 years. I had tried to quit years ago when my children were young but I started again. I was having a cigarette at 8.30am one January morning when I realised that I couldn’t actually taste it. So I decided to quit and went along to a Roy Castle Fag Ends session at Garston library at 2.30pm. I found the advisors really helpful and they even ring me up to see how I’m and if I need any support. I still go along to sessions occasionally, and have my lung function tested. I recommend Roy Castle Fag Ends to all my friends, none of them have followed my lead and quit yet, but I keep telling them about it because it really helped me. My children and grandchildren were all thrilled that I had quit. I was never pressured to quit by my family, it was something I decided to do for myself and I think that is why I’ve been successful. I still have a packet of cigarettes at home with 13 left in. However, the pack is taped closed because I know I don’t need them anymore.” Irene Dunne, has been quit for about 4 months. “Quitting smoking isn’t easy. I’d been smoking for 30 years but had wanted to quit for a long time. The idea to quit was always there, but I thought it was too hard. But eventually I decided to give it a go and went to a Roy Castle stop smoking session with a friend. I found the service really helpful and with the support of Roy Castle and some nicotine patches I was able to quit the first time I tried. I will admit that I had some slip ups and smoked a couple of cigarettes. It was very hard to quit, but the advisors at Roy Castle never judged me or preached at me for smoking. They were really supportive and because of their help I was able to quit, something I’d wanted to do for a long time. I would definitely recommend Roy Castle Fag Ends to anyone thinking about quitting smoking. It is tough, but with support and encouragement you can do it.” What is Roy Castle Fag Ends? The local cost of smoking |