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Why ignore the dangers of smoking?

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Local GPs are backing No Smoking Day (11 March) by reminding people of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting.

The theme for 2015’s campaign is ‘proud to be a quitter’ with the No Smoking Day website featuring inspirational stories of people who have stopped smoking.

Every year, over 100,000 smokers in the UK die from smoking related causes. 25-a-day smokers are 25 times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers while four out of five of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking.

As well as causing serious health issues, smoking will also damage your bank balance. Quitting for one month could save you £255 while quitting for one year could save you more than £3000.

Dr Jack Kinsey, local GP and NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) board member, said: “Everyone knows what smoking can do to you physically and financially but people still do it. This is really worrying because West Lancashire’s rate of death due to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) – a collection of lung diseases – is higher than the national average.

“I would encourage everyone who has had trouble quitting on their own to go down to their local Stop Smoking drop-in centre and take advantage of the free support that is on offer. It’s not too late to put that cigarette out for good and start thinking about living a healthier lifestyle.”

Steven Owen, from the West Lancashire Stop Smoking Service, added: “The Stop Smoking service is a great way to get all of the advice you need in groups or through pre-booked one-to-one sessions. Our trained professionals are able to advise you on nicotine replacement products and provide prescriptions that you can take to your local pharmacy.  Our drop in sessions are informal and open to everyone.”

Anyone looking to quit in West Lancashire can contact the local Stop Smoking service via:

The West Lancashire Stop Smoking service also runs weekly drop-in clinics at the following times:

Monday

Sandy Lane Health Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 8LA)                         11am – 12 noon

Walk-In Centre, The Concourse, Skelmersdale: (WN8 6LN)               2pm -3pm

West Lancs Health Centre (Ormskirk Hospital): (L39 2AZ)                5pm – 7pm

Tuesday

Burscough Health Centre, Burscough: (L40 4LA)                                  10am – 12 noon

Birleywood Health Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 9BW)                        3.30pm- 4.45pm

Ecumenical Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 6LU)                                      5pm – 7pm

Wednesday

Hall Green Surgery, Upholland: (WN8 0AB)                                   10am-11am

New Church House, Ormskirk: (L39 3AJ)                                               1.30pm – 2.30pm

Sandy Lane Health Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 8LA)                       3.30pm – 4.45pm

Thursday

Birleywood Health Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 9BW)                        10am–12 noon

Hillside Health Centre, Tanhouse: (WN8 6DS)                                       12:30pm – 1:45pm

Ashurst Health Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 6QS)                                 2pm–3.30pm

Saturday

Ecumenical Centre, Skelmersdale: (WN8 6LU)                                       9am – 12 noon

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