Event Highlights How Helping Staff to Quit Smoking Is Good For Local Businesses
Employers throughout Forth Valley are being asked to help staff quit smoking. They are being invited to attend an open event in Stirling to hear how helping their workforce to ditch tobacco can reduce sickness absence, and the time people leave their desks for a smoking break.
Attendees will be asked to sign up to a free campaign pack, and staff from the NHS Forth Valley Stop Smoking Service will help any group who want to give up cigarettes and e-cigarettes. They will also learn how organisations can promote the smoke free message to their groups
The move comes ahead of a national TV advertising campaign to highlight that all health service grounds in Scotland will become smoke-free on 31st March 2015. It also links to this year’s national No Smoking Day campaign which has the theme “I’m Proud to be a Quitter.”
NHS Forth Valley Stop Smoking Co-ordinator Gillian Bruce said: NHS Forth Valley is here to promote health and smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death. We support all smokers especially with our grounds becoming completely smoke-free soon.
NHS Forth Valley Senior Stop smoking Specialist, Yvonne Pringle added: “There are loads of ways you can stop smoking in Forth Valley. These include pharmacies, workplaces and clinics and a specialist service is provided in Forth Valley Royal Hospital. It is important for people to realise that all treatment is free and we are here to help.”
Already a group of more than 20 staff who work for a Government agency in Falkirk have signed up to an eight-week quit programme. The Specialist Stop Smoking Service is willing to go into offices and factories to work with groups of people who want to stop smoking.
As well as asking employers to help, the Forth Valley Stop Smoking Service would also like to invite schools, GPs, sports organisations and local government representatives to attend the meeting and to take part in the campaign.
The event, which is open to employers and organisations across Forth Valley, is being held in the Health Information Resource Library in Colquhoun Street, Stirling on January 22nd between 3.30pm and 6.00pm.
For more details and to register, please contact Victoria Young on 01786 433295.
