Arran Woodhouse Tobacco Liaison Specialist, King's College Hospital, London
Abstract
A survey of inpatients at King’s College Hospital in 2013 showed that smoking prevalence was 40% on acute medical and surgical wards, 67% on the respiratory ward and 100% on the vascular surgery ward. 66% of patients reported needing a cigarette within 30 minutes of waking, 64% of patients said they would like to stop smoking and 78% said they would welcome advice and help to quit during their admission.
In response to NICE Guidance (2013) and the British Thoracic Society Case for Change paper, a Smokefree Strategy Group was set up to improve care for sick smokers and to establish a smokefree hospital site. Integral to the project was the implementation of the NCSCT electronic referral system with the Very Brief Advice (VBA) online training module, a smoking CQUIN and a smokefree policy including smokefree hospital grounds.
Over 90% of in-patients on the CQUIN designated wards now have their smoking status recorded and acted on. Referrals for smoking cessation from King’s have tripled in the first 3 quarters of the year compared to 2013/14. Anecdotal reports have noticed a significant change in the perceived culture towards smoking and a decrease in the number of people smoking on site.
