The majority of people in the UK don’t smoke – yet smoking remains the leading cause of preventable deaths as around 10 million people (approximately a 6th of the population) continue to smoke – positively 63% of them want to quit.

By helping people quit smoking and quit for good, we can significantly improve public health and reduce health inequalities. By quitting, tobacco users can improve their own and their family’s health and wellbeing, and also reduce the likelihood that their children will become smokers.  

To support the Government’s comprehensive tobacco control strategy to help smokers quit Tobacco Free Futures works with local primary care trusts and health care providers by:

• Leading the NW development and implementation of the first regional  stop smoking service database ‘Quit with Us’ to improve communication with those wanting to quit
• Supporting a network of PCT stop smoking service commissioners to allow best practice sharing, problem solving and the provision of quality services for all residents
• Leading the North West roll out of a national marketing campaign – One Way Street – to generate new leads for stop smoking services and highlight ways to improve services, enable problem solving and the share best practice
• Designing and supporting the delivery of work to help pregnant women give up smoking, stay quit throughout pregnancy and following the birth 
• Leading on a community pilot project with the aim of reducing tobacco harm within the Polish immigrant community in the Crewe area. 

This work is making a real difference, results have included the highest number of people setting a quit date and the highest number of successful quitters in the country.