Lorraine breaks the cycle … and wins a bike 

Lorraine Wylde from Northfield in Birmingham was the lucky winner of a brand new bicycle, courtesy of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and South Birmingham PCT’s Stop Smoking Service.

Lorraine stopped smoking back in September, with help and support from South Birmingham Stop Smoking group held at Northfield Health Centre. She was entered into a prize draw to win a bike and a year’s free service from Halfords.

Lorraine bought her husband and son bicycles for Christmas with the money she saved from no longer smoking. She is now looking forward to joining her family on weekend bike rides.

Steve Pugh, Stop Smoking Advisor at the Northfield group, added: “You are four times more likely to quit smoking if you get support from your local NHS Stop Smoking Service. With help and support, Lorraine stopped smoking last year and has been smoke-free ever since.”

So far this year, 4,255 smokers have accessed the South Birmingham NHS Stop Smoking Service with 1,895 successfully quitting smoking. A range of treatment programmes are on offer, including group drop-in sessions and 1-2-1’s to help residents and people working in South Birmingham to successfully stop smoking. All of the programmes are evidence-based and are run by trained advisors. Medications such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) Champix and Zyban are available to support smokers in their attempts to  quit.

South Birmingham NHS Stop Smoking service runs a number of workplace drop-ins and groups including a UHB staff Stop Smoking drop-in at both hospital sites. Staff accessing the service can get up to eight weeks of NRT for a single prescription charge of £7.20. This is free if you are exempt from prescription charges.

For more information about groups and drop-ins sessions in your area, call the freephone 0800 0525 855.