Help on offer for parents aiming to quit smoking

In Bradford alone, smoking costs the NHS £27.5m each year and health chiefs are keen to protect children.

The stop smoking team is working closely with children’s centres to raise awareness of the risks of secondhand smoke to youngsters at home and in cars – backing a national smokefree campaign which is running at the moment.

Health chiefs say there are no safe levels of secondhand smoke and the best way to protect children and family members is to quit the habit.

Wyke Children’s Centre is already running stop smoking sessions and has a trained “champion” on site to help parents and carers who want to quit.

Pat Sherry, centre manager, said: “I was a smoker for over 30 years before I quit with help from the local NHS three years ago, so I know how hard it is to stop but also how much better it is if you do. We build ‘stop smoking’ messages into the general family support that we offer and also use our champion to give further help to those people who want it.”

An estimated 89,800 people smoke in Bradford and Airedale.

Lorraine Bradbury, from the stop smoking team at NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, said: “We’re really pleased to have support from the local children’s centres in helping parents and carers to understand the dangers of secondhand smoke, and to make sure their homes and cars are smokefree.

“Children’s centres are ideally placed to pass on information in an informal setting, and many also have stop smoking champions who have been trained to deliver help and support to parents who want to quit smoking.

“We want our children to grow up in a smokefree atmosphere, and give them the best chance of growing up healthy. Making your home and car smokefree can also help if people are trying to give up smoking.”

Anyone who wants free help and support can contact the local NHS stop smoking service on 01274 202793 or contact their GP. Stop smoking clinics are run at many venues in Bradford and Airedale, and Wyke Children’s Centre also holds sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays.