Dumfries and Galloway Smoking Matters

Dumfries and Galloway has a population of 145,800 - 70,785 male and 75,015 female. It is estimated that 30% of men and 25% of women are current smokers (Dumfries and Galloway Lifestyle Survey 2000).

The smoking rates in the Region compare favourably with Scottish figures of 38% of men and 32% of women. Previous lifestyle reports had established that approximately 70% of smokers in this Region expressed a desire to stop smoking.

Smoking Matters Service

In 1995 Dumfries and Galloway Health Board funded an innovative concept of providing smoking cessation support to smokers in the Region.

This was originally run as a pilot project for one year when ten people were employed and trained in the Stages of Change Theory and Motivational Interviewing techniques.

The aim of that project was to establish a smoking cessation service for smokers in Dumfries and Galloway.

As a consequence of this pilot the Smoking Matters Service was established which has three primary functions within the NHS Dumfries and Galloway region;

  1. To help and support smokers to quit or change their smoking.
  2. To provide training and support to NHS Staff who may then also assist smokers.
  3. To be involved in tobacco control issues.

A smoker who is a patient of a Dumfries and Galloway Medical Practices or who resides within Dumfries and Galloway can be referred to the Service by NHS Professionals (General Practitioners, Midwives, Health Visitors, Practice Nurses etc.) and from November, 2005, can self-refer by contacting the Smoking Matters Service on-

0845 602 6861

The Smoking Matters Service is based in Gardenhill Primary Care Centre in Castle Douglas with Clinics being carried out in locations throughout Dumfries and Galloway where appointments are made for Clients with the most convenient location to them for a one-to-one or group consultation.

The waiting time for consultation depends on a smokers needs and Client waiting lists although an emphasis is put on seeing smokers as soon as possible after the Referral is received. One-day workshops are also offered as awareness raising sessions which are then followed up with one-to-one or group appointments.

Clients who should be well motivated to stop smoking can be referred to the Service through Health Professionals and can also self-referred by contacting Smoking Matters Service on the number above.

Sevices are tailored to suit the needs of the Clients and the service is now taking its services out into the community into outreach areas of the Region to further develop and provide the services to Clients who otherwise might not be able to obtain them.

Up to three months prescribing of Nicotine Replacement Therapy can be supplied by Smoking Matters Service and there are a number of products which can be obtained to support and assist in a quit smoking attempt.

The Service has ran a number of small projects in supporting well motivated Clients with Nicotine Replacement Therapy and the outcome of these projects supports the evidence that smokers at least double their chances of quitting when using a nicotine replacement product rather than not using any product.

There is also evidence to support that fact that the chances of stopping smoking are further doubled by obtaining the motivational support and advice of a Smoking Cessation Advisor.

Are you thinking about stopping smoking?

Contact

If you are thinking about quitting and want to know how we can help you, contact us by:

tel: 0845 602 6861

email: dg.smokingmatters@nhs.net

post:
Garden Hill Primary Care Centre
2 Gardenhill road
Castle Douglas
DG7 1EE

Guide to quitting

Why do people smoke?

The chances are you will have started smoking because Your friends smoked. However, the main reason for continuing To smoke is the nicotine in cigarettes. Habit and coping with Stress are other reasons for continuing.

Knowing what keeps you smoking means knowing how to stop

Are you addicted to nicotine?

  • Do you need to smoke very soon after you've woken up?
  • When you smoke after a while without a cigarette, do you have a huge feeling of relief?
  • Do you smoke more cigarettes during the first hour of the day?
  • When you are in a place where you can't smoke, do you look forward to getting out of it so that you can smoke?
  • Do you find yourself standing outside a building to smoke, even if the weather is awful, because you are not allowed to smoke inside?
  • Do you always make sure you don't run out of cigarettes?
  • When you try to stop smoking do you get withdrawal symptoms e.g. craving for nicotine?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are addicted.

Nicotine is as addictive as cocaine and heroin.

Useful information

Reading Materials

If you want to read more about stopping smoking, the following books give more information on the issues covered in this website

Title: Kick it! Stop smoking in 5 days

Author: Judy Perlmutter

Publisher: Thorsons (Harper Collins)

Title: Allen Carr's 'easy way to stop smoking'

Author: Allen Carr

Publisher: Penguin Books

Leaflets and Booklets

Smoke Free in D&G

Aspire - To Stop Smoking 

Useful Websites

Please click on the links below for up to date information: