Free quit smoking support available to Wiltshire residents

Ahead of No Smoking Day (12th March), Wiltshire Council is urging people across the county to seek support to quit smoking either by downloading the Smoke Free app or through their local expert stop smoking service or GP.

It comes as recent research by University College London found that on average, every cigarette takes approximately 20 minutes off a smoker’s life, meaning that a typical pack of 20 cigarettes can shorten a person’s life by nearly seven hours. [1] Smoking also causes at least 16 different types of cancer, heart disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and stroke.

Wiltshire residents who opt for the Smoke Free App will get six months’ free access to help control cravings, monitor health improvements and money saved, as well as NRT posted to their home address. In addition, they can get support from an expert stop-smoking advisor 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Since this offer was introduced in Wiltshire in December 2024, 134 people have downloaded the App.  In total more than 300 Wiltshire residents have committed to quitting smoking since the beginning of the year, with a further 200 people contacting our Stop Smoking Service for support.

For people like 29-year-old Haytham Shaaban, who works in Wiltshire, stopping smoking can be life-changing. He smoked for two years before quitting in January with the help of the Smoke Free app.

“Smoking impacted every part of my life – both emotionally and physically.  It was affecting my health as I noticed I wasn’t as fit as I used to be. I couldn’t run like I used to, and I gained weight because I wasn’t exercising. My breathing wasn’t good, and I had sleep issues.

“I had tried different ways to quit smoking in the past, but I always ended up relapsing. This time I decided to try the Smoke Free app, as Wiltshire Council are offering six months’ free access, and it is really helpful. The advisors are very friendly and responsive and suggested I try a combination of nicotine patches and a vape to help me quit. It’s still early days, but I already feel much better.”

Quitting can benefit almost anyone at any age as the body begins to recover.

Within 20 minutes of not smoking the pulse rate returns to normal. Within two days toxic carbon monoxide gets flushed out of the body and breathing can improve after just 72 hours. Quitting will also reduce your risk of serious smoking-related diseases as well as improve your mood and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.

Kate Blackburn, Director of Public Health for Wiltshire, said: “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England, killing two out of three smokers. Research shows that using personalised support from a dedicated stop smoking service means that people are three times more likely to quit smoking than with will power alone. I’m really pleased we’ve had so many people in Wiltshire already sign up for the app or the Stop Smoking Service – but we’d always encourage more to join them.

“In addition to the App, our Stop Smoking Service is tailored to the individual and is non-judgemental, recognising that smoking is an addiction, not a choice. It supports people to make changes, manage cravings and have a plan in place to manage times when it might be tricky to not smoke, and staying smokefree.

“The support is free for everyone, and medications are available at only the cost of a prescription charge unless you are exempt, in which case the prescription is at no cost.”

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “Wiltshire Council is committed to empowering people to live full, healthy and enriched lives. We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who smokes to access free stop smoking support that works for them - and to never give up on giving up.

“The new Smoke Free app and our Stop Smoking Services are available free to anyone in Wiltshire that wants to quit smoking and provide many different options and combinations of tools for stopping smoking.”

For links to download the Smoke Free app or to contact Wiltshire Council’s stop smoking service, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree