Stop smoking Lothian support plan

The health board wants to encourage more smokers to give up

The number of pharmacies in the Lothians offering nicotine replacement therapy is to more than double to make it easier for people to stop smoking.

The stop smoking support will now be available through an extra 53 chemists, following the success of the first launch in December with 40 pharmacies.

Under the new scheme the outlets offer 12 weeks of one to one smoking support.

Patients do not need to visit their GP as the nicotine replacement therapy is on prescription from the pharmacists.

Fiona Moore, NHS Lothian smoking cessation co-ordinator, said: "We have a team of specially-trained stop smoking advisers who will help.

"People often take several attempts before successfully breaking the habit and the key thing is to remember we're still here for you when you feel ready to stop smoking again."

NHS Lothian also provides other services to help people stop smoking such as stop smoking groups which run in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.

GPs can also prescribe special smoking cessation medication to people who agree to receive smoking cessation support.