Cabin invite for festive shoppers needing help to stop smoking

The city is regarded by health chiefs as a hot spot for tobacco addiction, with nearly a quarter of the adult population hooked on cigarettes, leading to hundreds of related deaths every year.

Now those unable to summon up the will to make an appointment with their GP can benefit from an outreach service that will be parked up in the city centre.

Members of the public can book in with the Stop Smoking Cabin which will be in Exhibition Square, outside York Art Gallery, every Tuesday until December 21.

Anyone walking past can come and find out more between 1 and 2pm every Tuesday. Between 2 and 6pm the cabin will host stop smoking support sessions by appointment.

NHS bosses say 23.4 per cent of adults in York smoke and there are around 290 deaths per year related to the habit. Across North Yorkshire, 17.7 per cent of adults are smokers, with around 964 deaths per year related to smoking.

The North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service offers cessation programmes, run by specialist advisors, and has an excellent success rate of helping people to become and remain non-smokers.

Smokers can also pick up information on services that are available through trained advisors at GP practices and pharmacies.

Margaret Hewitson, from the North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service, said: "The Stop Smoking Cabin aims to give people in York a convenient option for accessing our service, whether they be shopping in the city centre or popping out on their lunch break.

"The cabin's doors will be open every Tuesday afternoon so smokers looking to quit can come and find out about our services."

Staff can provide a treatment programme over a number of weeks – either in the cabin or at a more convenient time and location. Appointments can be booked at the cabin or by calling a helpline on 0300 303 1603.

Miss Hewitson added: "In the first few weeks of stopping when withdrawal symptoms can be at their worst we offer encouragement, tips on dealing with cravings and access to stop smoking medication. Getting help from our service can be up to four times more effective than willpower alone."