“Someone who smokes 20-a-day will now spend over £3,500 a year on cigarettes”

Extra clinics are being put on from next week to help smokers quit the habit – and reap both health and financial rewards.

Guernsey Quitline recognised that January is one of the most popular periods for smokers to quit cigarettes and tobacco and so are putting on extra opportunities to make this possible.

Free advice is offered from trained nurses with patients able to access prescriptions of zyban and varenicline, free nicotine replacement therapies, or vape starter kits.

Specialist support, alongside medication, makes it three times more likely for smokers to quit than going it alone.

Additional clinics will take place at the Kindred Centre starting today, and Norman Piette from 22 January.

This is in addition to preexisting clinics run by Quitline which run at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, Shiloh Church on Wednesday mornings, Island Health St Sampson’s on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday afternoons at the Guille-Alles Library.

Sharon Dyke, Coordinator, Guernsey Quitline, said quitting is one of the most impactful moves individuals can make on their health and finances.

“Someone who smokes 20 cigarettes per day will now spend over £3,500 a year on cigarettes,” she said.

“The New Year is a great time to quit but willpower alone is often not enough, which is why you don’t have to quit alone. The free, friendly support provided by Quitline can help you succeed and the new clinics will hopefully make the service even more accessible for all smokers.”