It’s hard to find the words to thank the people who helped you finally quit smoking.
Te Kuiti Medical Centre practice manager Bernie Barry-Addy says the pride her clinic’s patients have in themselves when they quit is special to see.
“One of the women who had quit smoking with us, the first through our quit smoking programme, came back in to thank us and she was just beaming,” says Barry-Addy.
Michelle McKenzie, practice manager at Otorohanga Medical Centre, says several of her practice’s patients have also quit through the same programme and all found the support provided to them throughout the process invaluable.
“Smokers know that smoking is bad for them, but they need that support to quit otherwise they’re setting themselves up to fail,” she says.
“We’re there supporting them every step of the way.”
The programme, dubbed ‘Once and For All’, offers a brand new way of quitting smoking by focusing on offering intensive behavioural support for smokers with a dedicated Quit Coach.
The programme is available for free in Waitomo and throughout the Waikato and is internationally proven to work.
Both Te Kuiti and Otorohanga medical centres are members of Pinnacle Midlands Health, one of the largest primary health organisations in New Zealand and are facilitating the programme.
Pinnacle’s General Manager Practice and Network Services Andrew Swanson-Dobbs says it’s the individual and group support that sets Once and For All apart from other quit-smoking programmes.
“We have a group of health professionals who have been trained up as Quit Coaches and are keen to see Aotearoa’s days of smoking behind us.
“These Quit Coaches already have a background in the health industry – many of them are doctors and nurses so they know what they’re talking about when they say that quitting smoking has positive effects from day one.
“But they also have empathy and connect with smokers on a personal level. Many of them know what it’s like to quit – so they’re coming from a place of experience but also respect for the smoker and the journey they’re on.”
In the Waikato region there are 43,700 smokers aged 15 years and over – 15.5 per cent of the population. Smoking increases the risk of developing heart disease and cancer and is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand.
“In some cases we would also recommend nicotine replacement medication in conjunction with behavioural therapy and support,” says Swanson-Dobbs. “A combination of medication and behavioural support has a quit rate of up to 74%, whereas medication on its own can be as low as 9%.
“The number of enrolments in our programme has doubled in the past three months which is showing us we’re on the right track – but we won’t be happy until we’re 100% smoke free.”
The Ministry of Health has set a target of a smokefree New Zealand by 2025.
“Of course we want to help achieve that target, but we want our communities to be healthy and our families and whanau to lead active, fulfilling, smoke-free lives. That’s our motivation.”
Smokers can sign up to the Once and For All programme online, through their GP or community health provider or by phone. Once enrolled in the programme they pick a target quit date and are supported through their journey with a Quit Coach, and can take part in group or individual support sessions in their home, workplace or in-clinic. Smokers who quit successfully will receive a gift voucher to the value of $50.
Once and For All also offers tailored support for pregnant women trying to quit smoking.
To sign up, visit onceandforall.co.nz or phone 0800 6623 4522
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