Awareness day on quitting smoking held at Tullamore hospital
Wednesday, March 5, was 'National No Smoking Day' and to mark this occasion, the Tobacco Free Campus Committee at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) held an awareness day supported by Aisling Warburton, Health Promotion and Improvement Officer and Smoking Cessation Officer.
Tullamore Hospital is proud to be a smoke free campus since 2013. Last year, it launched it’s corporate Tobacco Free Campus Policy to which the hospital now adheres.This means that for patients, visitors and staff, there is no place to smoke or use e-cigarettes or vape while you are on the hospital campus.
The hospital campus includes all hospital buildings, outside areas, car parks and vehicles parked in the car parks.
Theresa Rennick, Chairperson of the MRHT Tobacco Free Campus Committee stated “in Tullamore Hospital we continue to denormalise tobacco use in our healthcare setting through the implementation of our Tobacco Free Campus Policy.
Patients continue to be supported to suspend their smoking while in the hospital and on the hospital grounds, from the Emergency Department to out-patients, to their stay as an in-patient. We continue to encourage patients to speak to their nurse or doctor about what support options are available to them while in our care.”
Smoking is highly addictive but you can take back control with the right support. You can avail of free stop smoking therapies or prescription stop smoking medication through your local Offaly Stop Smoking Service. Testimonials from users of this service said:
“I am now four weeks smoke-free, and it means everything to me. It’s not just about the extra money I have. It’s giving me hope for the future.” Nicola
“I cannot praise the service enough and I would highly recommend it for anyone trying to quit. 30 cigarettes a day, 30 years, finally free!!” Yvonne
“We all know that cigarettes are not good for us. Not to mention the price of them, but it's more than that, it’s the cost to my health. I am now off them for one year, and it is life-changing.” Seán
Evidence shows if you quit smoking for 28 days, you are five times more likely to quit for good.
Amanda is your local HSE Stop Smoking Advisor in Offaly. The service is FREE and Amanda can help you develop a personal quitting plan, which looks at your addiction levels, smoking habits and emotional attachment to tobacco.