Quit@work
Danielle Foster, Health Protection Advisor, Knowsley Environmental Health, UK and Alan Unsworth, Health Protection Advisor, Knowsley Environmental Health, UK

Abstract
Knowsley is the eighth most deprived district in England, with a population of approximately 150,000. Life expectancy for both men and women is lower but lung cancer and heart disease rates are significantly higher than the national average (IDEA, 2007). Therefore with the aim in reducing these inequalities smoking has been identified as a priority area by Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Partnership, which has invested over £1 million recurrently to tackle smoking and the harm caused by tobacco.

Knowsley’s stop smoking services consists of community interventions and one specifically targeting the Workplace. The latter was introduced in January 2007 – Quit@work was the first Workplace stop smoking service delivered by a Local Authority. Benefits to businesses - potential improvement in attendance and productivity, with the benefits to quitters being well documented.

The Quit@work service has proved to be both very popular and successful with 56 businesses accessing the service, delivered on site. Quit@work operates a Buddy scheme facilitating small businesses to share both sessions and venues. The service has received positive feed back from both businesses and quitters alike which demonstrates the high value in which Quit@work
is held.

The report from the information Centre on Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Service in England, April to September 2007 has confirmed that Knowsley Council in conjunction with Roy Castle Fag Ends has achieved the highest rate.