The online stop smoking clinic has been launched during VApril, the world’s largest vaping education campaign aimed at encouraging smokers to switch to the proven safer alternatives. Now in its third year, VApril is organised yearly during the month of April by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and is strongly supported by health entities such as Public Health England (PHE) and the vaping industry alike.
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, this year’s campaign had to go digital in order to reach smokers who are on lockdown. Similarly, the new stop smoking service based at Grovehill Pharmacy NHS Stop Smoking Clinic, is offering virtual consultations with stop smoking practitioners, certified by the National Centre of Smoking Cessation and Training.
Smokers seeking cessation support can book a telephone or video conferencing consultation, which can be one or two way depending on the preference of the smoker. Following the consultation, they will be given a personalised treatment programme, including a quit target date and options for vaping products, other nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and medications to reduce smoking urges.
Additionally, smoking cessation experts will provide smokers who enroll in the program with information and an understanding of their smoking addictions and be available to offer weekly and fortnightly telephone and email support.
“Face-to-face support dramatically increases the chances of successfully quitting smoking. With the launch of our online stop smoking clinic, we can now expand the capacity and reach of our service to offer specialist stop smoking treatment to people in their own homes,” said James Cameron at Grovehill Pharmacy NHS Stop Smoking Clinic.
“As access to advice for smokers looking to give up cigarettes is hindered by the current Coronavirus lockdown, the service will also provide vital support during these challenging times.”
The current perfect opportunity to invest one’s energy in quitting cigarettes
NHS Stop Smoking Adviser James Cameron, said that given the current lockdown, there has never been a better time to invest one’s energy into quitting smoking. “There hasn’t been a better time than the current coronavirus lockdown for smokers to direct their mental energies to something they most think about, which is quitting cigarettes. Our clinic provides the opportunity to do so.”
Andrej Kuttruf, founder of Evapo and director at the UK Vaping Industry Association, said that as a business they are pleased to be part of a smoking cessation programme that uses vaping as part of the treatment. “It’s great to be involved in a public health venture where vaping forms a central part of the treatment plan to support smokers looking to quit.”
“Recognised by Public Health England as 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes, vaping is widely acknowledged as one of the most effective ways to stop smoking and has helped over 3 million smokers in the UK to successfully quit, according to Action on Smoking Health. Expert advice is vital when making the transition from smoking to vaping, which is why we are delighted to be involved in this initiative as part of VApril national vaping awareness month.”
About VApril
Meanwhile, anyone interested in knowing more about VApril, may access information and advice or receive support in switching, can go on www.vapril.org. Smokers who visit the site can download a special “Switch on to Vaping” guide and pose questions online to an expert industry panel. The site offers a number of real life testimonials by former smokers who had their lives transformed by making the switch and it also includes a vaper’s guide to dealing with the Coronavirus.
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