MORE people in the South West are turning to local stop smoking services to try and stub out the cigarettes.

Today, Wednesday, March 11, is No Smoking Day, a national health campaign aiming to raise awareness of the dangers and encourage smokers to quit.

As part of the campaign, which this year is focused on the theme Quit and Win, the NHS in the South West has shared new figures.

In 2024/25 the South West achieved 25,725 quit‑date sets, exceeding the ambition of 19,725 by 5,997, the highest performance in more than a decade and a 72% increase from 2021 (11,457).

This uplift is estimated to have:

• Prevented 135 cardiovascular events annually

• Prevented 189 premature deaths.

Dr Justin Varney-Bennett, South West Regional Director of Public Health, said: “It’s really good news to see that more people in the South West have made a commitment to give up smoking and are accessing the many local stop smoking services that are available in their communities.”

Dr Justin added: “We can see how more people than ever before are trying to quit, but we also understand how it difficult it is.

“This is why No Smoking Day is an important date in the calendar. Whether you’re making the decision to stop today or are already on that journey and need a reminder of the health, wellbeing and financial benefits, and the support available, the NHS in the South West is here to support you.

“From tailored one-to-one local services to the NHS Smokefree App and nicotine replacement therapy to help with the cravings, we have more tools and techniques to help people quit successfully and improve their own health.”

Retired nurse Gina Kellaway, from Weymouth, Dorset, is one ex-smoker who turned to nicotine replacement therapy to help her quit the cigarettes.

Despite telling patients to quit, Gina smoked 20 plus cigarettes a day, and could not give up smoking herself, despite many attempts.

She said: “I was 40 years a nurse, 40 years a smoker.

“I used to care for patients with the most awful respiratory problems, look after heart attack victims. I would come back from having a cigarette break, load up on Polo mints - and then sit with patients and talk to them about lifestyle changes, like giving up smoking!

“You would think that seeing all these sick people whose health was being massively impacted by smoking would put me off, but smoking was such a huge part of my life.

“I’d justify my smoking by saying ‘that’s not going to happen to me’.”

When she started to experience heart palpitations caused through her smoking, she decided: “This is stupid, my body is telling me I have to do something. I’d been thinking of giving up for a while, but the heart palpations were the icing on the cake.”

Gina got in touch with her GP who told her about LiveWell Dorset.

She spoke with an advisor who was really helpful and sent her local pharmacy for some nicotine patches and a nicotine inhaler.

“I also signed up for coaching from a lovely chap called Dan, one of the LiveWell coaches. He would phone me once a week and see how I was getting on and offer tools and tricks to keep me going.

“Some people might feel a bit nervous about coaching, but when you are offered help to get on that non-smoking ladder – take it. It is nice to know someone is at the other end of the phone cheering you on. You need that pat on the back and non-judgemental support.

“I don’t think I could have done it without their support, we’re social creatures and LiveWell and the community pharmacy were super.”

Gina also downloaded the NHS smokefree app and used that to keep track of her progress.

The app was also able to show her that her body's carbon monoxide levels were going down, and her cravings reducing.

Now free from her nicotine addiction Gina has noticed a real difference in her skin and hair – no longer dry and nicotine stained.

She’s no longer breathless and a CT scan and X-ray have shown that she has escaped COPD and emphysema, which are life-limiting long-term impacts of smoking.

In the first six months of being smoke-free she saved more than £2,000, and now has more money to spend on other things like holidays.

She added: “I’ve also extended my life expectancy. Every one of those days is precious. More days to spend with the people I care about.

“Quitting smoking is a tough journey but such an important one. It is never too late and no matter how many times you may have failed in the past, never give up giving up.”

Find out more about round the clock support and stop smoking tips through the NHS Smokefree App at Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS.