A Festive Message from Quit Your Way Scotland (Hebrides)

What a year 2020 has been! Coronavirus has blighted all our lives in one way or another, and yet in many ways it has encouraged us to all pull together and see it through. However, with the great news that the COVID-19 vaccine is being offered, we can start to think of brighter, happier, times ahead.

Quit Your Way Scotland (Hebrides) has been working throughout the pandemic and its team would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all our amazing clients who have taken the steps towards quitting smoking.

Despite the barriers that COVID-19 put up, our clients found new ways of reaching out to us for support.  The use of technology has allowed us to meet virtually through the use of Near Me (Attend Anywhere) and by text and e-mail.  Interestingly, the good old telephone has also had a major resurgence in helping us deliver support – in fact, we found that many of our clients really enjoyed the opportunity to talk about quitting and also how the pandemic was affecting them.

We have lost count of the number of thanks and messages of appreciation from our clients and we value this feedback in a year which has not always been positive for many of us.  We must also thank all our colleagues in the NHS and GP Practices who take the time to refer their patients who are keen to quit smoking, to our service.

This is a vital component in supporting quitters into the world of smoking cessation and it is heartening when clients have had positive encouragement from their health professionals to come and meet with our highly trained, friendly advisors and make a quit attempt.

Quitting is not easy, timing needs to be right and circumstances are also important. It is much more beneficial that our clients can find out what we can offer in terms of behavioural support and Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) and non-NRT such as Varenicline (Champix). Clients can then make an informed choice and get back in touch with us when they are ready.

NHS Western Isles is extremely proactive in encouraging smokers to quit, and this was reflected this year when our Board came out top in the Public Health Scotland (PHS) Local delivery Plan (LDP) Outcomes for 2019/20. It was heartening to see this and important to remember that this was only achieved through the dedication and hard work of our quitters.

2020 is not a year any of us will forget, however, 2021 is shaping up to be much better with the COVID-19 vaccine. We appreciate it will take time for everyone to receive it, but so eagerly look forward to our lives returning to normal.

In the meantime why not get a head start on your own health outcomes.  If you smoke, quitting is the best present you can give yourself in 2021.

You can contact your local Quit Your Way Scotland (Hebrides) team on (01851) 701623 or 07919 290 094 or e-mail: wi.hebridesquityourway@nhs.scot

Together we can do it… and you can be stronger, fitter and wealthier in 2021!