Stop smoking service

Coronavirus: stop smoking service update

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we have made a number of changes to our services.

Patients

We have changed our appointments to a telephone consultation. As circumstances allow, we will be reintroducing face-to-face clinics. However, we intend to make sure we are able to maintain your ongoing consultations, although this may at some point require a change in specialist depending on the needs of the wider service or sickness.

New referrals we will be processed within 48 hours.

How to contact us

If you do need to contact us for any reason, please email:

• Lambeth community patients: gst-tr.stopsmokinglambeth@nhs.net
• hospital inpatients and outpatients: stopsmoking@gstt.nhs.uk.

If you are unable to use email or your query is urgent, please call:

• Lambeth community patients: 080 0856 3409 or 020 3049 5791
• hospital inpatients and outpatients: 020 7188 0995.

If you leave a message we will respond as quickly as possible.

If you are an existing patient who has previously been seen in our service and need advice from the clinical team please see below for the appropriate option.

Contact us by email 

• For any queries regarding your referral, appointment or the contact details we have for you.

• For clinical advice – such as general support, coping strategies, using the medication, concerns regarding side effects.

Contact us by telephone

• If you need urgently discuss your quit attempt or next appointment.
• If you don't have access to email or our website.

GPs

We are doing everything we can to support GPs and your patients during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

We welcome new referrals and will contact your patient within 48 hours of receiving the referral. We have changed our appointments to a telephone consultation. As circumstances allow, we will be reintroducing face-to-face clinics.

If you need advice from our clinical team please use the current advice and guidance channels.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Please see our list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). If your query is not covered in the FAQ please either email or call us as detailed above (please use email unless your request is urgent).

Our free stop smoking service aims to help people to give up smoking. We provide advice, support and encouragement to help you stop smoking for good. 

What do we offer?

• trained advisers to help you decide when’s the best time to stop and how to succeed
• regular sessions in the first few weeks after stopping to encourage you to keep going
• a choice of medications to suit your level of smoking and preference, available free or on prescription
• carbon monoxide tests to keep you motivated by showing reduced carbon monoxide levels in your blood after quitting.

Hospital stop smoking service

Giving up smoking before any planned hospital treatment is the most effective thing you can do to speed up your recovery, even stopping smoking once you have been admitted can shorten your hospital stay. 

At Guy's and St Thomas' we have a team of stop smoking advisers working with inpatients, outpatients and staff to provide excellent evidence-based support to smokers to help them quit.

They offer free, confidential advice and support through their weekly clinics and inpatient service. Stop smoking medications can be arranged while you are in hospital helping you avoid the long walk outside to find a smoking area.

The advisers work closely with community services as well and can refer you to your nearest advisor once you are ready for discharge.

Supporting you to quit smoking

A short film to in supporting you to stop smoking. 

Stopping smoking may seem really daunting but with the right support it's something that you can achieve. Meet our specialist advisor Judith, and some of the people she has helped to quit smoking.

Specialist community stop smoking service

Our Lambeth community stop smoking service offers specialist support for people who may find it harder to stop smoking, particularly if you are house bound, have a long-term physical and or mental health condition or have tried to quit a number of times before.

Support can be provided on a one-to-one basis or if you feel you would benefit from the support of other smokers then stop smoking support groups may be your preferred option. Our specialist service has high success rates and is particularly effective with highly dependent smokers.

Pregnant women and new mums

If you are pregnant or have children under the age of five, our specialist counselling service is tailored to suit your specific needs. We offer one-to-one support and can also support your partner and other family members who would like to stop smoking.

Stop smoking success stories

• Zoe Robson completed her first London Marathon in 2014 despite smoking 10 cigarettes a day. Spurred on by her coach and a chance meeting with our stop smoking specialist Doris Gaga, Zoe was inspired to stop smoking.

• Catherine McCabe, a receptionist at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton, quit a 36-year smoking habit in October 2013 with the support of the stop smoking team.
• Janice Hosier, started smoking at 15. She's tried to quit her 20-a-day smoking habit six times but without success. With the help of Guy's and St Thomas' stop smoking specialist Doris Gaga, Janice says she has kicked the habit for good.
• Colin Bone and his partner Sandra O'Sullivan gave up smoking together in October 2013. Colin had smoked for 43 years but was spurred on to quit smoking after being diagnosed with breathing problems. His partner, Sandra, smoked for 42 years and has also kicked a 25-cigarette-a-day habit.