Free virtual support programme offered to help all Wakefield smokers quit

The service, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and delivered by NHS specialists, provides 12 weeks of personalised support, including video or telephone calls and free nicotine replacement therapies or e-cigarettes delivered directly to those who take part.

Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Lots of people want to stop smoking, but they’re not sure where to start. We want people to know they don’t have to go it alone.

“Evidence shows people are much more likely to quit for good with professional support. Our unique service is here to provide an extra helping hand and give people the best possible chance of success.”

New evidence suggests that around 300,000 people in the UK may have quit smoking during the coronavirus crisis, after a study found that smokers are more at risk of developing life-threatening complications from Covid-19.

There are an estimated 700,000 smokers in Yorkshire, the highest rate in England.

Each year, about 4,500 new cases of cancer in Yorkshire are linked to smoking, around 15 per cent of all cases diagnosed.

Dr Scott said: “There’s never been a better time to quit smoking. It remains the very best thing you can do for your long-term health and the health of those around you.”

To register your interest in the Yorkshire Cancer Research Stop Smoking Support programme, visit www.bit.ly/YorkshireStopSmoking.