Your Health Barnet blog

Stop Smoking Advisors work across a variety of settings such as hospitals, community health centers, or specialised clinics. Here at Barnet, we have a team of 3 in-house advisors who offer telephone support, 1:1 face to face appointments and groups. We also have tobacco dependency advisors in GP surgeries and in pharmacies across Barnet and an out-of-hours service which offers more flexibility and accessibility for our service users.  

Our role as advisors is to provide comprehensive support to individuals who are thinking about stopping smoking. You can refer yourself through the Barnet Council website (self-referral) or a health professional can make a referral for you. 

My morning: 

• I review my service user files and prepare myself for my first appointment with ‘Mike’ (not his real name) who is a 55-year-old who has been smoking for 40 years and has made several unsuccessful quit attempts. Mike has recently been diagnosed with early-stage COPD, which has motivated him to try again so I make notes on his history of heavy smoking, previous use of nicotine patches, and struggles with stress-related cravings.
• Mike arrives for his 1st appointment, which usually takes about an hour, and I greet him warmly and acknowledge his past efforts and the courage it takes for him to try again. I tell him about the 6-12 week stop smoking programme and what will happen in each session. Mike’s treatment plan includes carbon monoxide monitoring at each appointment, which can be a motivational way to see the benefits of quitting as his body recovers. I ask open-ended questions about his reasons for wanting to quit, his concerns, and his current confidence level.
• We chat about his smoking history in detail, including his triggers, patterns, and the impact it has on his life. Together we explore his feelings about his COPD diagnosis and how quitting could improve his health and quality of life. I help educate Mike about the health risks of continued smoking and the benefits of quitting, while emphasising the potential for lung function improvement even after years of smoking.
• During the appointment we explore different potential quitting methods, including NRT (nicotine replacement therapy). Options like patches, gum, lozenges, and inhalers are available, as well as medication options like Varenicline or Bupropion, which are available on prescription. Mike opts for trying a combination of the patch and a nicotine inhaler, as he is comfortable with the hand-to-mouth action. I explain how to use these correctly and discuss the potential side effects with him. I also mention how the Barnet Stop Smoking service also offers free vapes under the ‘Swap to Stop’ national scheme and show him the free Smoke Free app but this was of no interest to him. 

• Together, Mike and I develop a personalised quit smoking plan. We agree a ‘quit date’ for him which is generally a month from the first appointment, allowing enough time for him to adjust and prepare. The plan includes strategies for managing any potential cravings, dealing with his withdrawal symptoms, and identifying and avoiding any known triggers. We also discuss stress management techniques and schedule his next appointment a week later at a time by when Mike will have received his medication, started using it and started to quit.  

My afternoon: 

• For the rest of the day, I spend time seeing other service users and making phone calls to check in with others  and see how they are getting on, as well as booking others into appointments to see or speak to one of our advisors. I schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor everyone’s progress, address any challenges they are facing, and adjust their personalised Quit Plans as needed. An important part of my role is to offer ongoing support and encouragement throughout their quit journey.  

• I take this time to follow up with my other service users by phone. I check how they are doing with their preparations to quit and answer any lingering questions they may have. I make sure they are comfortable with their medication and are on the right path to quit. This is also a time I take a moment to reinforce their motivation and remind them what local support is available to them. 

If you are considering making this No Smoking Day - Wednesday, 12th March - the day you start to stop smoking for good, register your interest with the Barnet Stop Smoking Service. The service is completely free and can help you start to take back your life from smoking. 

For lots more support, tips and advice to help you quit, visit the Your Health Barnet Stop Smoking page.