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Give quit smoking help at work, says NICE

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently issued advice on the support smokers should be offered in their workplace to help them quit smoking (for more information go to Stop Smoking under "Our Guidance" on www.nice.org.uk). The new advice comes as workplaces in England go smokefree from 1st July 2007 (see also www.smokefreeengland.co.uk).

Specifically, the NICE recommendations include an onus on businesses to:

• Publicise local information on stop smoking services to employees
• Be responsive to individual needs and provide on-site stop smoking support if practicable
• Allow staff to attend stop smoking sessions during working hours without loss of pay
• Develop a Stop Smoking Policy in collaboration with staff

Nationally, smoking causes an estimated 85,000 deaths in England each year, costs the NHS an estimated £1.5 billion annually and costs industry an estimated £5 billion in lost productivity, absenteeism and fire damage. The new laws banning smoking in workplaces are expected to motivate smokers who want to quit, to finally give up.

Providing stop smoking support in the workplace will not only help employees who smoke to quit, but will also help employers and employees stay the right side of the new laws. As a healthier smokefree workforce means increased productivity, providing stop smoking support makes good business sense for employers.

Locally, you can obtain a free Workplace Pack (full of useful information to help you encourage employees to quit) produced by the Eastern and Coastal Kent Stop Smoking Team on 0800 849 4444 or contact one of the friendly Stop smoking Leads in your area;

For Sittingbourne, Sheppey, Faversham, Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay speak to Jane Blinston-Jones on 01227 795095

For Thanet and Dover areas speak to Yvonne Philbrick on 01304 828715

For Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and Ashford areas speak to Carolann Samuels on 01304 828748