Fresh and the NENC Smokefree NHS Taskforce are hosting a free lunchtime seminar on Monday 22 June (12.15–1.15pm), featuring Professor Sanjay Agrawal, a national leader in tobacco dependency.
The session will focus on the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report Smoking, health and social justice, which highlights how smoking is increasingly concentrated among people facing disadvantage, including poverty, poor mental health and insecure housing. The report calls for stronger, more joined-up action to reduce smoking-related health inequalities.
During the seminar, Professor Agrawal will share key findings and recommendations, including the introduction of opt-out smoking cessation support across NHS services, improved support for underserved groups, and a more coordinated cross-government approach.
The session is open to anyone working with people who smoke, including commissioners, stop smoking services, public health teams and wider health and care professionals, as well as those with an interest in tackling smoking-related harm.
Alongside this, a new regional campaign, More Ways to Quit, has launched to help people feel more confident about stopping smoking and to connect them with effective support. Recent data shows strong motivation to quit across the North East, with nearly half of smokers making a quit attempt in the past year.
The campaign promotes a range of evidence-based options, including local stop smoking services, medications, vaping as a less harmful alternative, and digital tools. A suite of resources is available for partners across health, local authorities and the voluntary sector to support local engagement.
Access campaign resources: https://www.freshquit.co.uk/resources-library/more-ways-to-quit/
A small amount of printed resources can be ordered via: More Ways to Quit – Printed resources order form – Fill in form.
Partners are encouraged to share how they are using the materials to support the region’s ambition for a smokefree future. This can be done by emailing [email protected]
