Extra help for Ipswich smokers as local rates hit 21 per cent

Smokers across Ipswich are being offered extra support to quit this October, as local health teams target areas of the town where smoking rates are significantly higher than the national average. With more than one in five adults smoking in West Ipswich, the national Stoptober campaign is providing a timely push to help residents improve their health, save money, and break the habit for good.

While the UK average for smoking sits at 10.4% and the Suffolk average at 10.5%, recent data from the Suffolk Tobacco Control Plan shows a stark contrast in our town. In West Ipswich, 21.1% of adults smoke, and in East Ipswich, the figure is 16.7%. Because of this, local stop-smoking service Feel Good Suffolk is focusing its efforts on the town, bringing new drop-in support sessions to areas like Kesgrave to ensure help is easy to reach.

Stoptober encourages people to give up smoking for 28 days during October. Research shows that reaching this four-week milestone makes you up to five times more likely to quit permanently. Feel Good Suffolk, which is celebrating its third anniversary this month, has already helped nearly 3,800 people across the county to stop smoking. The service is run through a partnership between the Suffolk County Council public health team, local borough and district councils, and the NHS.

A community effort to improve health

Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death, contributing to nearly 1,000 deaths a year in Suffolk alone. It also places a heavy burden on health and social care, costing an estimated £586 million locally each year.

“We all know the harm that smoking causes, both to our own health and to the people around us,” says Georgina Howe, Strategic Manager for Feel Good Suffolk. “Most people who smoke wish they’d never started, but quitting can be incredibly difficult. It often takes more than one attempt to stop for good and that’s completely normal. The good news is that there are now more proven ways to quit than ever before. We’re here to help, not to judge, and we’ve supported thousands of people across Suffolk to become smoke free.”

People who use a dedicated stop-smoking service are three times more likely to succeed. Local residents who have used the service report feeling much healthier and better off financially. One ex-smoker, Alex, realised he was spending £50 a week on tobacco and wanted to make a change for his children. Since quitting, he says his lungs feel clear and he can run again. Another resident, Bob, was warned by his GP about his health and used a support group to stay on track. The money he saved from not smoking eventually allowed him to retire early.

Immediate benefits for your body and wallet

The advantages of stopping begin almost immediately, and it is never too late to try. According to health experts, the physical recovery timeline looks like this:

• After 20 minutes, your pulse and blood pressure start to drop back to normal.
• After eight hours, your oxygen levels recover and the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine in your blood halves.
• After three to nine months, your lungs work 10% better, reducing coughing and wheezing.
• After one year, your risk of a heart attack is half that of a smoker.
• After ten years, your risk of dying from lung cancer halves.
• After 15 years, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked.

Alongside the physical benefits, quitting brings a huge financial relief. A person smoking ten cigarettes a day can expect to save around £2,500 a year.

Medical experts are also backing the campaign. Dr Mike Smith, Executive Medical Director at the local NHS Integrated Care Board, agrees that the physical benefits are worth the effort.

“Stopping smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. Whatever your age and however long you have smoked, quitting reduces your risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, and the benefits begin almost straight away. Stoptober is a great opportunity to make a positive change and Feel Good Suffolk can provide the expert support needed to help people quit for good.”

If you are ready to take on the Stoptober challenge, there is plenty of free help available. Feel Good Suffolk offers one-to-one support, group sessions, vaping advice, medication, free apps, and access to Allen Carr seminars. To find out more about the new drop-in sessions in Kesgrave, or to fill in a simple referral form, visit the Feel Good Suffolk website at feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk.

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