NHS Support

[nsd_user663_2052]

Hi All

I went to see my cessation support person today, I have been quit 5 weeks. She told me I am now officially a non smoker and she didn't have to see me any more. :confused:She says she will refer me back to my GP who will decide whether to offer further support/prescriptions.......now I quit through using the service via a well known high street chemist chain as it was more convenient, but I'm sure that the support offered through the same scheme via GPs is 12 weeks......not sure what to make of it, as I don't have any cravings, at least not until she told me I was now officially quit!! I had a fleeting urge for a cig as I felt unready to be cast adrfit.:eek: I'm popping in next week so she has chance to speak to my GP to see if they will continue the support or not, she says it's not mandatory it's up to them and as I'm doing so well....I feel quite unsure about all of this

[nsd_user663_2722]

Hi - you will find this will depend on local stop smoking targets. It is also five weeks in my area but I insisted I needed more time and they agreed.

I would give the NHS stop smoking line a call and ask if there is another group you can attend or if you can extend the support at your local chemist clinic - I am sure they'll be happy to direct you.

x

[nsd_user663_2863]

Yes, I found this to be a problem, but the local quit service run by the NHS have been flexible (I think...another Px should be in the post!).

I agree that it's disconcerting to be dropped back into the pool without really any acknowledgement of what YOU may need to stay stopped - which is, after all, the POINT (gnashing of teeth here!!!).

What on God's earth is 'Officiallly a non-smoker' ???

Can't get more personal than stuffing a leaf filled tube in your mouth and lighting the end, then drawing the smoke into your personal lungs, it seem to me!

Last time I looked there wasn't an official pair of lungs to do it with..Grrr Grr.

OK, got that off me chest!

Bill G:mad:

[nsd_user663_2941]

i,m doing the nhs course thru my gp, using champix.

it,s a 12 week course here, as thats how long they will prescribe it for .

5 weeks seems a bit short :confused:

[nsd_user663_2291]

I am not far from James and its a 12 week course here too. I would suggest call NHS stop smoking , I am sure you can get more support if you need it.

[nsd_user663_2892]

You're all lucky to have been offered ANY support. When I inquired at my surgery, I was told the nurse "might" do it with me, but as I have a full time job 30 miles away from the surgery which is only open the same hours as I work....well, not much good

I also found googling a waste of time, anything that did come up was aimed at England (Thought the N in NHS stood for NATIONAL????) and nothing at all for North of the Border

At least I stumbled across this website by googling, cos no-one out there was gonna tell me such a thing existed!

[nsd_user663_2722]

The Department of Health's smoking cessation targets numbers are set at 4 weeks smoke-free - this is why you will find a wide variation in services across Primary Care Trusts.

The PCTs get their bonuses based on the numbers of quitters after 4 weeks. I think, like Bill that this is complete nonsense and that support should be given at any stage of the quitting process be it at day 1, week 4 or month 6.

[nsd_user663_2052]

The whole thing's mad, 4 weeks is too soon and the lack of support in some areas for any GP support is terrible.:mad: Post code lottery strikes again. I think there's a possibility that areas with lots of smokers are likely to get less time too.So it makes the forums like this even more important.

[nsd_user663_2312]

really worried now ,as i was told its a 12 week course.

on my 2nd week of patches and my nurse is already trying to lower my strengh.

i toild her i want to stay on the higest strengh for as long as pos.

i hope my 12 weeks dont turn into 4 weeks as i know i will fail without help.

hope you get things sorted

[nsd_user663_2052]

really worried now ,as i was told its a 12 week course.

on my 2nd week of patches and my nurse is already trying to lower my strengh.

i toild her i want to stay on the higest strengh for as long as pos.

i hope my 12 weeks dont turn into 4 weeks as i know i will fail without help.

hope you get things sorted

If you have been told it is a 12 week course then they will have to offer you 12 weeks, I assumed it was 12 weeks as others I know in the neighbouring town had had 12 weeks.....good luck with your quit, don't let anyone rush you into lowering patch strength. You need to feel comfortable, that's they key I think, feeling comfortable each step

[PrudencePotts]

In my area there is no time limit on issuing NHS prescriptions. They just want you to do it. I had prescriptions for patches,etc. I was told by (our wonderful) practice nurse never give up giving up and they would let me have whatever I needed for as long as I needed.

In the end, I simply stopped - Cold Turkey - after some 40 years. One day just after I stopped I rang the NHS Stop Smoking Line - I was crawling up the wall - and was told that they couldn't help me because I wasn't

registered!!

I like to think that I am an articulate person but the unfortunatee call centre operator felt full force anglo saxon language!!!

After that I found this forum................

Wishing all today's new joiners success ........UUUUUUUUUUUUU can do it!!!!!!!

[nsd_user663_2402]

Went to my doc today and he was thrilled that I'd asked for Champix. Had to go to Quitline first before doc would give me a prescription, but they too were great. Told me I'd get 12 weeks worth of tabs. Gotta make regular weekly visits though. I'll soon be on holiday for 3 weeks so they said they'd give me a supply to take with me.

I hope I don't let them down. This holiday will be a true tester.

[nsd_user663_2136]

just to put in my two pennyworth.. I had to get Champix on a private prescription becaue it was not (then) offered on the NHS in my area (it is now) and no other support was offered. When I eventually questioned this (having read here that there were such animals as cessation nurses) they told me it was because I had 'chosen' to go private!! Talk about Catch 22.