Creating change and addressing the unacceptable gap in life expectancy will require a whole-system approach that supports the delivery of smoking interventions to address culture and stigma, screening rates, treatment rates and treatment efficacy. We need to work together to scale up coverage of stop smoking advice and provide interventions in the most cost effective and meaningful way possible.
Actions to take
- Take a strategic cross-sector/setting approach and deliver multilevel interventions from health promotion to cessation treatment.
- Optimise interfaces with other prevention initiatives, voluntary sector organisations and government agencies to maximise impact.
- NHS commissioners and providers should work with public health and local authorities to ensure that full pathways from screening, referral to interventions for smoking are available and able to effectively support those living with serious mental illness (SMI).
- Utilise the enhanced role and availability of community pharmacists through the Pharmacy Integration Fund and GP Access Fund as outlined in the GP Forward view, increasing screening and treatment opportunities.
Tools to help you
- ‘Making Every Contact Count’. NHS England provides a framework and training to support all staff to contribute to this agenda. This is a framework that can be rolled out to involve more professionals or staff across government agencies and voluntary sector organisations to reinforce messages and interventions to reduce smoking.
- Make Every Contact Count- Healthy London Partnership Programme
In:
Tagged: serious mental illness (SMI), stolen years