19 June 2008

Call Centre Staff Quit Smoking

Forty staff from HCL call centre in Armagh have taken part in a six week stop smoking support programme.

The programme was organised by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust following a HCL staff wellbeing week.

Cathy Murray, Health Promotion Facilitator for the Trust who ran the smoking cessation programme said: “Having worked with HCL for their staff wellbeing week I saw a demand for an ongoing smoking cessation support programme. Forty staff attended the programme which took place on site once a week. Participants had weekly personal consultations based on their individual needs. Consultations included information on preparing to stop; setting a quit date; staying stopped; Nicotine Replacement Therapy; carbon monoxide monitoring and coping strategies.

“All of the staff who took part were very determined to quit and I was delighted with the outcome of 17 participants setting a quit date.”

Shauna McNally, Human Resource Administrator at HCL said: “HCL is delighted to be working in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in relation to the Smoking Cessation Clinic. As part of our employee wellbeing plan, HCL is keen for our staff to feel healthy in the workplace. Cathy has been very helpful in accommodating our shift patterns, coming in later than planned and staying late on occasions to catch-up with the employees.”

The initiative has been greatly appreciated by staff as Martin Devlin adds: “Cathy really helped me to give up smoking, something I'd been planning for years. I really appreciated her advice and support.”

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust offers a wide range of free support and advice for those who want to try to stop smoking. For further information:

Armagh and Dungannon Tel: 028 3741 2468

Craigavon and Banbridge Tel: 028 3839 8235

Newry and Mourne Tel: 028 3083 4325