How much will advice and treatment cost?
NHS Stop Smoking Services are free. It’s recommended that you see a specialist stop smoking advisor at your GP surgery, at your local pharmacy or at one of the Drop-in centre for the first four weeks after stopping. This is because the first four weeks after quitting can be the most difficult and you will benefit from checking in with an Advisor so that your progress towards breaking away from the smoking habit can be monitored. Their services are completely free. Or you may prefer to come along to a group quit at Queen Mary’s Hospital. You will get lots of motivation from the other people on the group – who will understand exactly how you feel as they will be at the same stage of their smoke free journey as you are. The groups are facilitated by two Stop Smoking Advisors who will be able to give you lots of tips and support for the full duration of the course.
Treatment costs are free if you are exempt from paying prescription charges. If not, you will pay a prescription charge for these products but this is cheaper than buying them over the counter. The NHS advises you to complete the full course of treatment to help you stop smoking and to give you the best chance of stopping long term. The full range of nicotine replacement products – gums, inhalators, patches, nasal sprays, lozenges, microtabs and mini lozenges - as well as the oral medications of Champix and Zyban are available as proven effective treatments.
How long does a course of treatment last?
Courses of NRT are provided for twelve weeks to support people to stop smoking. Champix is also prescribed for 12 weeks and Zyban for eight weeks. Your advisor can answer any specific questions about any course of treatment.
I don’t live in Bexley - can I use the service?
Yes, if you work or study in Bexley you are welcome to use Bexley’s Stop Smoking Service. We will write to your GP asking them to prescribe a course of treatment for you but you can still access support to quit from your Bexley Stop Smoking Advisor
I don’t have much time to give up smoking, what can I do?
If you work in the day and find it difficult to access a daytime service, we run a very effective Tuesday evening quit group at Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup. These 6-week group sessions are popular so you would need to book. This simply means calling our number 01322 359960. Most Bexley pharmacists are trained Stop Smoking Advisors and are therefore able to provide support to stop smoking up to 7pm in the evening or at the weekend. They can also prescribe nicotine replacement products or Champix on the spot – as long as you are registered with a Bexley GP. (Zyban is only available from your GP).
If you would prefer to use a telephone helpline, you can contact the NHS Smoking Helpline 7 am – 11 pm every day on 0800 0224 332. For online help, support and the chance to ‘Ask an Expert’ GOSMOKEFREE.CO.UK
Giving up smoking is the very best thing you can do to improve your health so make time to quit – nothing is more important than your good health.
I want to stop smoking - what shall I do next?
Evidence shows that you’re four times more likely to successfully stop smoking if you contact your local NHS Stop Smoking Service. Only 3% of people who stop smoking without support manage to stay stopped long term. Giving up such a powerful addiction can be hard – so why not make it easier for yourself and use the free professional help to stop once and for all. Advisors can make sure you are using the right level of medication and give you the encouragement and reassurance needed to get cigarettes out of your life forever. Bexley has a very effective and successful service so why not take advantage of this free resource.
If you want to ask more about Bexley’s award winning service call us on 01322 359960 or email us at
stopsmoking@bexley.nhs.uk