A group of NHS West of Scotland Laundry staff, who quit smoking 12 weeks before the New Year, celebrated 2017 smoke-free.

Steven McArthur, Jim Allan, Moira Hands and Senga Whitelaw quit with the help of NHS Lanarkshire’s Nurse Specialist Stop Smoking Service.

For two of them, it was an unexpected surprise.

Moira explained: “Myself and Senga only signed up to make up the numbers and support our workmates. We weren’t even thinking about stopping but it was easier than we thought.”

Senga added: “If I had known it was going to be so easy I’d have done it years ago. I always found the thought of stopping scary as I didn’t think I would cope, but I surprised myself.”

Lynne O’Hare, NHS Lanarkshire health improvement senior and stop smoking nurse specialist, said: “They’ve done brilliantly.  It’s common for people to be worried when making changes in their life, particularly if that change is an addiction.

“But anyone can stop smoking with the right guidance, support and treatment, even if they think they can’t. That’s why it is worth a try and important to get specialist help instead of going it alone.”

There are many nicotine addiction treatments available to help you quit smoking. Everyone in this group chose a medication called Varenicline, more commonly known as Champix.  Varenicline blocks the enjoyment of smoking and lowers nicotine withdrawal symptoms. It comes in tablet form and is taken one to two weeks before you stop smoking.

Moira concluded: “Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones and it has so many different benefits.

“A highlight was taking my grandchildren out for dinner from the money I’d saved. My eight-year-old grandson said to me, ‘Gran will you keep not smoking so you can keep treating us to dinner’!”