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The All-Wales Smoking Cessation
Service
Linda Durgan
Powerpoint
Presentation
Abstract
In Wales, Smoking Cessation Services were established
in 1999. The National Assembly for Wales gave initial
advice on setting up the services based on the 1998 White
Paper Smoking Kills and the 1998 Thorax guidelines. Health
Authorities were encouraged to test and develop a range
of services and innovative approaches to delivering smoking
cessation advice and help. In total 10 pilot services
were created.
In 2002 the National Assembly commissioned a research
team to conduct an evaluation of the pilot Smoking Cessation
Services in Wales. The research team subsequently made
19 recommendations regarding the future of smoking cessation
services in Wales. These recommendations were implemented
during the first year of the new All Wales Smoking Cessation
Service which began in April 2004.
The first year of the new Service has seen the unification
of the previous pilot services. The new All Wales Service
is managed by the National Public Health Service (NPHS)
and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). A common
identity has been adopted across Wales including uniform
job titles, introduction of a National free phone number
and the creation of a National database. The free phone
number has eased the way in which clients can refer to
the Service and the database has ensured that data collected
is standardised and comparable across different localities.
After the first year of the National Service plans are
now bring drawn up for the future. It is envisaged that
the Service will work more closely with secondary care
and adolescent smoking cessation and pregnant women.
Linda Durgan
All Wales Smoking Cessation Service,
St David's Hospital, Carmathen
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