The Stop Before Your Op campaign was launched by the Phoenix Stop Smoking Service which is part of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust. The specialist team has been named as The Advisor magazine's Team of the Year for its work in Boston Pilgrim and Lincoln County hospitals with the Stop Before Your Op initiative.
It highlights how patients who stop smoking prior to surgery are more likely to have a shorter stay in hospital with a reduced risk of developing post-surgery complications such as a stroke or heart attack.
The project was set out to address several issues: to increase the referrals into our service and to help people stop smoking, particularly those who had surgery planned by educating them around the health benefits of stopping smoking. Patients who stopped smoking prior to their surgery would benefit from fewer complications during and after their operation, require less anaesthetic, have a reduced risk of infections, and have faster wound healing which translates to faster discharge which is good for both patients and the NHS.
Stop Before Your Op was first launched in Boston's Pilgrim Hospital in April this year and has so far helped 437 people to start their quit journey. The service has now been extended to hospital patients in Lincoln and Grantham who can now access stop smoking support to aid their recovery.
Tracey Matthewman, Phoenix Stop Smoking Specialist, said: "Stop Before Your Op gives anyone attending hospital for an appointment or longer stay the opportunity to make the step to sign up to Phoenix while they are already thinking about their health. "The Phoenix specialist advisors can give individually tailored support to anyone ready to quit. We can also give support to smokers who are having difficulty with quitting temporarily while in hospital. "The benefits of quitting can start within 20 minutes as your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal." Support includes dedicated advice and support from specialist advisors, a range of treatments to support a patient to quit, carbon monoxide testing to keep them motivated throughout and follow up support both in hospital and following their discharge.
Director of Nursing at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Eiri Jones, added: "This is an example of an excellent partnership between two Lincolnshire health providers. We know that smoking is very damaging for all smokers, but particularly harmful for those undergoing surgery. This will be a very valuable service and help save lives."
Further information about the Phoenix Stop Smoking Service is available through the Phoenix Health Shops in Lincoln, Skegness and Gainsborough. Alternatively, call 0800 840 1533 or text SBYO to 07786 205128.