Health professionals are being encouraged to refer patients who smoke to the NSW Quitline, and potentially double their chances of quitting smoking.
A new initiative, One Small Step – One Big Difference, is calling on health professionals to implement smoking cessation interventions into routine care, and refer their patients who smoke to the NSW Quitline.
Quitline is a free, evidence-based service to support patients at risk of tobacco-related disease. Evidence shows that phone support services can double a person’s chances of quitting smoking successfully.[1]
Tobacco remains the largest cause of preventable disease and death in NSW[2] with more than 47,000 people hospitalised and nearly 5,500 deaths attributed to smoking each year.[3,4]
Of particular concern are the smoking rates of high-risk populations, including pregnant women, people at socio-economic disadvantage or who live with mental health conditions.
Making a referral to NSW Quitline is simple
The Cancer Institute NSW has launched a new online referral form. Plus, if consent is provided, feedback from NSW Quitline can keep health professionals informed about the progress of their patients.