West Midlands smoking cessation programme
A new free programme of support for mental health services in the West Midlands has been launched and will run until April 2008.
From 1st July 2007, virtually all enclosed public places, work places and work vehicles in England became smoke free, which marked an important milestone on the road to public health. However, there has been a temporary conditional exemption until 30th June 2008 for a number of mental health services, which will continue to apply after that date in some establishments providing residential care. More information can be found at Smoke-free regulations 2007
We know that there is a high prevalence of smoking amongst people with mental health problems, which has meant that service users and staff are often exposed to second hand smoke and have therefore been unable to enjoy clean air.
However, many service users want to give up smoking, but we also know that mainstream smoking cessation services do not always meet their needs and admission to hospital in a crisis may not be the best time for them to quit.
The Care Service Improvement Partnership in conjunction with the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre and QUIT launched a free programme of support for Statutory, Voluntary and Independent Mental Health Services within the West Midlands in preparation for smoke free mental health services legislation on 1st July 2008, the key aims being:
- to increase the number of Mental Health Service Users who have equal access to specialist smoking cessation support and health promotional materials should they choose to quit smoking, by engaging with local Mental Health and NHS stop smoking services
- to help services comply with smoke free mental health services legislation, identifying where and when service users and staff are able to smoke should they wish to do so
As part of the programme:
- NHS Stop Smoking practitioners have the opportunity to take up free refresher training enabling them to gain the specialist knowledge and skills to work with mental health service users.
- Free training will be available for mental health service staff (spaces limited) so that they are able to refer appropriately to NHS Stop Smoking Services and help provide smoking cessation support to service users themselves.
- A resource and support pack on CD Rom will be sent out to Services who sign up to the programme, the CD contains information to help Services comply with the smoke free legislation and posters and leaflets which can be displayed within services giving contact numbers for the local NHS Stop Smoking Service
- There will also be an opportunity for residential mental health services to request a site visit from the TCCC to receive individual support and advice - Please note that the cost for these visits will need to be match funded.
In April 2008 there will be a regional ‘Sharing Good Practice’ event which will provide an opportunity for services who are already meeting the aims of this programme to share their achievements and approaches.
Rethink have now been contracted to engage mental health services within the West Midlands in this programme, therefore if you would like any further information or would like to become involved, please call Maureen Speed on 01538 383886 or email Maureen.speed@rethink.org
