Call for people in Wiltshire to inform future quit smoking services
Wiltshire Council's put together a short survey to gather feedback
People in Wiltshire who've quit smoking are being asked to help inform future support for people aiming to kick the habit.
Wiltshire Council's launched a survey which calls for smokers and ex-smokers to help ensure services can be targeted and effective.
It's part of the council's long-term plan to reduce smoking in Wiltshire, with current figures estimating an approximate 10.2% (41,800) adults in the county are smokers.
They want to cut that by 8,000 in the next five years.
The first step on that road to reduction is to identify what works and what doesn't. Feedback from this survey will make sure future support is based on first hand experience of those who've been on the journey to a smoke-free life.
The survey's being launched on No Smoking Day in the UK, as many people will use the day as the start point for their quest to quit and is available to fill out between 13th and 27th March 2024.
Kate Blackburn, Director for Public Health for Wiltshire said:
“Taking the decision to stub out a cigarette for the final time is not easy. We know ex-smokers will have their own stories of what has worked for them.
"We want to hear them and find out the most effective ways that worked. It’s equally important to hear from current smokers. We want to know the reasons why they continue to smoke and if they have tried to quit in the past.
"All this feedback will be invaluable and help us set out effective ways to support people for the future."
Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health said:
“There is no avoiding the evidence that smoking can cause harm both to the smoker and those around them.
"We have set ourselves a clear commitment to seriously reduce the number of people who smoke in Wiltshire. We are part of a multi-agency approach to tackle this in the county.
"The more smokers and ex-smokers fill in this survey the better our understanding will be and the better our support will be in the future.”