December 2024
Welcome to our special end-of-year edition of the Smokefree Devon Alliance Newsletter! Thank you to all involved with the Alliance for your hard work throughout 2024. We wish all our colleagues and partners a restful break and a positive start to 2025!
#YourStopCouldBeNext - New Years Campaign from Stop for Life Devon
As we approach new year we are all thinking about living a little healthier!
This is a great time of year to support our new year stop smoking campaign. This new year our focus will be #YourStopCouldBeNext focusing on not only the new year but the early year as a time to consider the health benefits of stopping smoking. We also acknowledge that January can be a difficult time for people and while they might not be quite ready to quit creating a list of what they want to achieve and checking things off one by one when the time is right for them is also important! We will also be sharing some wonderful stories gathered from our clients in year 1! Please see our website for our ready to download toolkits. These toolkits will include content for your websites, social media channels, and printable resources.
For national resources please sign up here.
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Votes on the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill will move the UK one step closer to becoming smoke-free. The Bill includes ambitious plans to protect children from vaping, including a ban on vape advertising and sale of vapes in vending machines, in addition to restricting vape flavours, packaging and shop displays. The bill will help achieve one of the 3 key shifts in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, to move from sickness to prevention. Read more here. You can also find out how your local MP voted here.
Cytisine Now Available
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Cytisine has been added to the Devon Formulary as first line option for smoking cessation in adults, as part of a programme of behavioural support. Cytisine is a safe and effective treatment. It works in a similar way to varenicline (Champix), reducing urges to smoke by attaching to some of the same neuronal receptors in the brain that nicotine does. |
October was a very busy month for referrals! We received a Stop for life Devon record breaking number of referrals - 860 referrals, in one month!
In Torbay it was also a resounding success, with a 60.3% increase in referrals compared to last October. By engaging with the community through targeted messaging, outreach events, and collaboration with local partners, we’ve seen a surge in people taking the first step toward quitting smoking.
Stoptober provided us with not only referrals but with valuable insights into how people access smoking cessation services, their motivations for quitting, and how we can make our services more accessible to those who need them most.
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We’re excited to announce the pilot of a specialist stop smoking programme for individuals attending clozapine clinics in Torbay. This tailored approach aims to support those with severe mental illness (SMI) in overcoming unique barriers to quitting smoking.
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Informed by the Local Stop Smoking Services and support: commissioning, delivery and monitoring guidance and a review of evidence and best practice, this briefing aims to assist with planning and delivery to maximise the reach and impact of Local Stop Smoking Services.
 We are thrilled to have partnered with the Smokefree App to enhance flexibility and accessibility for Torbay residents. The app offers an additional layer of support for individuals who prefer a more digital-first approach or who face challenges attending in-person sessions.
The Smokefree App provides:
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24/7 access to tailored support through personalized quit plans.
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Daily motivation via progress tracking, milestone celebrations, and interactive tools.
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On-demand advice with live chat and resources that complement our in-person and telephone-based support.
This partnership has been particularly effective in engaging working-age adults and those who find it difficult to attend appointments due to work, caring responsibilities, or transport barriers. Together, we’re ensuring that stop smoking support is as accessible and inclusive as possible.
The past six months have been an exciting period of growth and achievement for Your Health Torbay’s Stop Smoking Service, and we’re proud to share our updates. Through dedication, collaboration, and targeted interventions, we’ve made significant strides in supporting our community to live healthier, smokefree lives.
Service Highlights:
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Record-breaking Referrals: Since April 2023, the service has received an incredible 1,520 referrals, a 59.8% increase in referral rate in the last 6 months compared to the previous six months.
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Quit Achievements: Out of these referrals, 984 Quit Dates have been set, and 453 individuals have successfully quit smoking at four weeks, highlighting the positive impact of our support.
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Case Study from Your Health Torbay:
"I have no intention of going back to smoking now, I've already saved £500 in the past 6 weeks. I was spending £13 a day, £90 odd a week, it adds up quickly. I've already booked myself a cruise for Christmas with the money that I have saved. When I told everyone I was going to stop smoking they laughed at me as they didn't think I would be able to do it. I was smoking 60-80 a day and to now be smoking 0 is unbelievable. I just can't believe what it is like to feel like I can breathe again, I feel so much better."
For those wishing to access training in the Devon County Council area, please visit the Stop for Life Devon website for details regarding upcoming training dates for you and your teams. We offer training courses in Full level 2 smoking cessation practitioner training and refresher courses. We have also developed a new training offer to create Smoking Champions across our communities. This course will offer a half-day course to upskill practitioners in everything smoking cessation, but for those not in prescribing roles! If you would like to receive more information regarding this please visit our website and enquire.
In Torbay, our collaboration with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices continues to thrive. Through targeted case-finding initiatives, we’ve successfully engaged individuals who may not have sought help, ensuring they receive tailored and timely support.
Public Health Devon are offering increased support for GPs and pharmacies who offer smoking cessation services and who want to increase engagement. Please contact Sandra.Allwood@devon.gov.uk if you are interested in finding out more.
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Looking ahead, we’re laying the groundwork for further innovation and accessibility:
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Co-located Work with Family Hubs: Starting in April 2025, our stop smoking advisors will be offering services alongside local Family Hubs, making it easier for families to access vital support.
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Bringing Back Support Groups: Recognising the value of peer support, we’re planning to reintroduce stop smoking groups, creating a sense of community and shared purpose for those on their quitting journey.
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Smokefree Generation Workforce: Recruitment into the remaining Smokefree Generation posts has been successful, bolstering our capacity to deliver even more impactful services.
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Smokefree Devon Alliance Website
We are reviewing and updating our website to improve it as a source for professionals. Welcome to Smokefree Devon - Smokefree Alliance Devon
Any comments on how the website could be improved are welcome please send comments to publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
The newsletters will be shared on our www.smokefreedevon.org.uk/ website to be accessible to all in the future. Alliance newsletter - Smokefree Alliance Devon (smokefreedevon.org.uk)
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