New initiative launched to support people to quit smoking before surgery
19/06/2012
A new drive to help people quit smoking before surgery was launched recently. ‘Time to Quit’ was developed by The Southern Trust with the support of the Public Health Agency and Pfizer.As part of the drive, nurses are being trained to offer advice and refer smokers waiting for planned surgery to Trust Specialist Smoking Cessation Support Services. Patient and staff information leaflets and posters have also been developed to promote the benefits of quitting smoking before surgery.
Research shows that smoking increases the chances of developing complications following surgery including: breathing and lung problems, risk of infection and poorer healing of wounds. These risks mean smokers are more likely to stay in hospital longer than non-smokers. Stopping smoking at least eight weeks before an operation can reduce the chance of these complications occurring and potentially shorten the stay in hospital and speed up recovery.
Speaking at the project launch Dr Rankin, Director of Acute Services, said: “This new initiative will help by signposting smokers to Trust Smoking Cessation services to help them quit before their surgery. Pre-surgery smoking cessation encourages patients to take more responsibility for reducing their recovery time by quitting smoking before an operation.”
Gerry Bleakney, Head of Health and Social wellbeing Improvement in the Public Health Agency, said: “Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death and ill health. This initiative encourages patients to see how stopping smoking before their surgery can reduce their risk of developing health complications and support their recovery following surgery. We also hope that once they’ve seen the benefits of not smoking for a short period of time they will quit for good.”
