Implementing hospital based stop smoking services. The good, the bad and the ugly

Authors:
Tracey Holliday and Gary Bickerstaffe

Presenter:
Tracey Holliday
Stop Smoking Specialist for Pregnancy and Hospital, NHS Bolton, UK

Abstract
Data / service results on developing hospital based smoking cessation practices. Short term progress and partnership working for long term management of smoking cessation support. ‘Hard to help’ groups do not access primary health care services. Hospitals can maximize opportunities for patients using admission as opportunity to quit smoking by considering current health status. Using evidence based approach and devising assessment and referral systems, NHS Bolton is willing to share pathway’s successes and pitfalls.

‘Hard to help’ groups highly represented in hospital settings, providing ideal setting to motivate, advise and support a quit attempt. Offering training at level one (brief intervention) to all has engaged ‘hearts and minds’ – equipping staff with skills to identify, advise and refer patients. Training key staff to Level II (intermediate level) from inpatient areas incorporates motivational support for patients into medication pathways. Integrating onward referral therefore ongoing support via community stop smoking services.

Exceeding 5,000 level one (signposting) referrals to local stop smoking service and approximately 2,200 inpatient assessments made since October 2003 – 800 for continued support on discharge. Referrals mostly from cardiology / respiratory wards, cost of NRT approx £22,000. Data available on pathway success and failure.

The hospital has proved itself to be key player to identify smokers who may not have accessed stop smoking services previously. Communities cannot ignore the contribution a hospital can play in assisting large numbers of people access support to quit smoking.

Source of funding: NHS Bolton has funded my post full time and so this is to show work I have done whilst in post. This work highlights work done by NHS Bolton’s Stop Smoking Service within the Royal Bolton Hospital Foundation Trust.

Declaration of interest: none