England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy stopped by Whitechapel Idea Store to chat with local stop smoking advisors today, Wednesday 8 March, No Smoking Day.
Jeanelle was joined by Tracy Parr, Programme Director of the London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London and Dr Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health for Tower Hamlets and Co-chair and Smoking Cessation Lead, London Association of Directors of Public Health.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy said:
“Stopping smoking is the most important step you can take to improve your health and help you live longer.
“Please take the opportunity this No Smoking Day to drop into your local cessation service for advice and support. Local services like Quit Right in Tower Hamlets have helped over 5 million smokers to quit across the country and specialist staff are on hand to help you too.”
On No Smoking Day, people across the UK are reminded that ‘Today is the Day’ to quit smoking and that it’s never too late to make a quit attempt.
This year’s annual campaign is focused on improving brain health and raising awareness around reducing the risk of dementia, in partnership Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Most people are aware that quitting smoking reduces your risk of lung disease and cancer but it’s less known that it can substantially reduce your risk of dementia.
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Tower Hamlets Council Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care said:
“It’s never too late to make positive changes. Along with all of the health benefits from quitting smoking, you can also save up to £2,000 a year. We’re encouraging residents to start their quitting journey as part of No Smoking Day and quit along with thousands of others across the UK.”
Tracy Parr, Programme Director for the London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London, said:
“You’re three times as likely to beat tobacco dependence and stop smoking successfully with help from your local stop smoking service. If you’re thinking ‘Today is the day’, the borough’s free Quit Right Tower Hamlets is here to help – you can self-refer or be referred by your GP. London’s dedicated digital and free telephone programme Stop Smoking London can also help you achieve your goal of being smoke free.”
