Smoking can be devastating

10 March 2015

Jan Brown is a clinical nurse specialist in respiratory medicine at Barnet Hospital. For No Smoking Day 2015, we spoke to her about why she is keen to encourage people to kick the habit. She said:

“We all know an 80-year-old with a 60-a-day habit who has never been to see a GP.

“Unfortunately these people are very much in the minority. Smoking can have a devastating effect on a person’s health, causing cardiac problems, bone disease, cancers and respiratory lung disease.

“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a horrible condition. It can lead to a slow, lingering death and has a terrible emotional and physical impact on patients and their families.

“If a smoking cessation team can help anyone of any age group to stop smoking that would be a wonderful thing.”

The Royal Free London offers a specialist, friendly, confidential and responsive service to all patients, visitors and staff who want to quit smoking for good. Find out more about our stop smoking service.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published public health smoking cessation guidance specifically for hospitals, which includes offering support for people to stop smoking and making all NHS secondary care hospitals completely smoke free.

Smoke free policies have received widespread support. A 2011 YouGov poll found that 82% of people surveyed believed that having smoke free environments was good for the health of the population.

Media contacts: daniel.obrien1@nhs.net or call 0207 317 7740