New stop smoking clinic opens in South Molton

Smokers with a New Year's resolution to quit are being offered a helping hand thanks to the opening of a new clinic in South Molton.

The South Molton clinic launched this week and will be held at The Amory Centre, East Street, from midday to 3pm each Tuesday.

Anyone aged 16 or over who wants to give up smoking can take advantage of free, one-to-one, confidential support.

The sessions are run by the Health Promotion Devon team from the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Specialist stop smoking adviser Lyn Tehver is leading the South Molton clinic while Sarah Leggatt is taking the sessions in Ottery.

Lyn said: "I am really pleased we will now be able to support residents in the South Molton and Ottery areas to quit smoking for good.

"Research shows you are four times more likely to give up with NHS support, so it's important that as many people as possible can access a local clinic."

The clinics are part of the Devon Stop Smoking Service and anyone interested in attending must book in advance.

To make an appointment or to find out more, call 01884 836024 or e-mail stopsmoking.devonpct@nhs.net.

The Trust runs similar clinics across the county and its advisers supported nearly 1,000 people to quit smoking in the last year.

Their success rates are among the best in the country, with over three-quarters of those stopping not lighting up within four weeks.