How to get help to quit smoking in Argyll and Bute

Smoking is an addiction that for most smokers is hard to quit. Tobacco products contain nicotine which creates a dependency making it difficult to stop on your own.

But we are confident that with our help you can quit, and with encouragement and support make your life and the lives of those around you smoke free.

We are not here to tell you all the bad things about smoking as you already know what they are.

Advisor Yvonne Brown

We are here to help, advise, encourage, motivate and support you at every step of your journey. We will tailor a unique programme for you and support you in that programme. 

And if you don’t succeed at first, we will not judge or criticise. We will help you to review what you have achieved and will continue to work with you until you succeed.

Many people can quit on their own but there is much evidence to show that quitting with our help is four times more successful and that you are likely to stay smoke free.  Many studies have shown it is easier to stop smoking and to stay smoke free if you do it with our help.

With your determination and commitment, and our encouragement and support we are confident that you too can be smoke free.

Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have appointed Stop Smoking Specialist services to offer “FREE” non-judgemental support in Kintyre, Mid Argyll, Cowal, Bute, Oban and Lorn and Helensburgh and Lomond. In addition local pharmacies deliver free stop smoking support.

Lynn Garrett, Health Improvement Senior said:“There are so many benefits to stopping smoking, for the individual, their family, their pets and their unborn children.   

Lynn Garrett

Stopping smoking reduces risk of diseases such as; a range of cancers, heart disease and vascular respiratory disease. You might think it won’t work for you but as one person said to me ‘If I can do it, anyone can do it’.

You may just want to talk to someone by phone and arrange for some information to be sent to you.

You may want to speak face to face with a Smoking Cessation Adviser. 

They will have an initial meeting (virtual if that works best for you) to discuss what options are available to help you quit and to help you prepare and plan for stopping smoking. 

Our service is based on what has been shown to work - people are four times more likely to quit smoking of they use smoking cessation services alongside NRT.

If you decide to go ahead, we will help you arrange to get the medication most suited to you. We'll see you again at least 3 or 4 times to help iron out any problems and give you support and encouragement over the first few weeks of quitting.

If you decide at any point that this isn’t the right time for you to quit, don’t worry! We will be happy to see you again in the future when you do want to go ahead.

WHERE TO START – CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SMOKE-FREE ADVISORS

COWAL

Kathy Graham (Cowal Community Hospital) Telephone 07972678923 or email Kathleen.graham@nhs.scot

Kate Paton (Cowal Community Hospital) 01389-708349 or email kate.paton@nhs.scot

ISLE OF BUTE

Mandy Allison (Bute Practice) Telephone 01700 500521 or email mandy.allison@nhs.scot

MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE & SOUTHEND

Jill Denton Telephone 07707868351 or email jill.denton@nhs.scot

HELENSBURGH & LOMOND & OBAN

Yvonne Brown Telephone   07795612590

Yvonne.brown22@nhs.scot

KINTYRE

Caroline Glen Telephone 07812 485058

Caroline.glen@nhs.scot

In addition support, advice and resources can be found online by visiting Smoke-Free Highland website or Quit Your Way webpage via NHS Inform website, to help people who are thinking about stopping smoking.

Click here for more information