New HSE Stop Smoking Service opens in Dún Laoghaire

HSE Community Healthcare East has opened a new Stop Smoking Service in Dún Laoghaire Primary Care Centre. 

This free service, run by the Health and Wellbeing Division, is one of 12 stop smoking services now available to people throughout Dublin South and Dublin South East.

Stop Smoking Services are also located in Clonskeagh, Sandymount, Baggot Street, Balally, Churchtown, Blackrock, Stillorgan, Loughlinstown, Shankill, Ballinteer and Leopardstown, serving local communities across Dublin South and Dublin South East.

The purpose of the service is to support people to quit smoking and stay quit.

Those who attend the local Stop Smoking Service can also access free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) as part of their package of support.

NRT are licensed medicines that safely give you low levels of nicotine to help with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Examples of NRT include patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers.

Using NRT can double your chances of quitting for good.

Providing access to free NRT has encouraged many smokers, who may have seen the cost of NRT as a barrier to them quitting, to sign up for this valuable service.

Margaret (56) who attends the local Stop Smoking Service and is 12 weeks’ quit reflects on her quit journey so far: “This is a great service. I would not have quit without it.

“It is the mixture of the FREE nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and the support from the Advisor that makes the difference.

“I was given the long acting NRT patch and also chose the fast acting NRT inhaler.

“Having two types of NRT made all the difference.

“I met with the Advisor on a weekly basis and this helped keep me on track and really helped with changing my habits.”

The team of Stop Smoking Advisors who run the service help people in a friendly, non-judgemental way to set their quit date, develop coping strategies and support the person to stay quit for good.

In a one-to-one session, which can be in person or over the phone, your Stop Smoking Advisor will:

• Assess your nicotine addiction,
• Help you identify your reasons for quitting,
• Discuss your best options for NRT, and
• Create a personal plan to help you quit smoking for good.

If you join the Stop Smoking Service, your local Advisor will arrange for you to access NRT through your GP or participating pharmacy.

Your Advisor will keep in touch with you weekly for the first six weeks after you quit and periodically for up to 12 months to help and support you throughout your quit journey.

Quitting smoking can be hard.

This January, the HSE are encouraging people to try the 28 day no smoking challenge.

Breaking down the challenge to 28 days to begin with can make it feel more manageable.

Why 28 days? We know that people who quit for 28 days are five times more likely to quit for good.

Martina Queally, Chief Officer, HSE Community Healthcare East comments: “We are delighted to add Dún Laoghaire to our list of free Stop Smoking Services in the South Dublin area.  Quitting smoking is one of the best things anyone can do to improve their health.

“However, we know that it is not always easy.  Having the support of Stop Smoking Advisors available close to people’s homes, coupled with access to free nicotine replacement therapy, will be of huge benefit to those who want to quit smoking in 2024.”

Nuala Cody, Stop Smoking Advisor, HSE Community Healthcare East, speaks about providing the new service in Dún Laoghaire and how to get in touch: “I’m delighted to be able to provide a local Stop Smoking Service to the people living in Dún Laoghaire and the surrounding area.

“I would encourage anyone who is even thinking about quitting smoking to get in touch with us today to talk through the supports that are available to them.

“People can make contact with the service directly through the contact details below.

“Health care professionals can also make referrals to the service.”

For more information or to sign up email cheast.quit@hse.ie, phone 087 0927225 or scan the QR code below.