9/10/2017
A successful quit smoking pilot project, which helped more than 800 people in the region over the past 12 months, has been extended until June next year.
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The service is delivered through pharmacies in the MidCentral DHB region and anyone can refer any smoker to the service.
The project was a finalist in this year’s Pharmacy Awards in the “Innovation in Patient Centred Care and Advice” category and has been used as a basis for Smoking Cessation service development by other DHBs.
MidCentral Community Pharmacy Group chair Clare Hynd said: “Any smoker can visit a community pharmacy to ask about the free service. It involves being given advice to quit, a “starter pack” of NRT and referral to Te Ohu Auahi Mutunga (TOAM), a local stop smoking team. Engaging a coach increases the chances fivefold of quitting permanently and every quit attempt is a step towards to being smoke free.
“Pharmacies have the ability to bring many more referrals to the service. While GPs refer individual patients, pharmacists engage with a much bigger group of potential ‘quitters’.”
The project involves MCPG, the Central PHO, the MidCentral DHB Public Health team and TOAM.
Accredited staff at 27 pharmacies are involved (details follow).
Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945.