“HONESTLY, the service provided by the Stop Smoking Team was amazing!” says service Shannon Flannagan. “I never realised how simple it was to access these services and to get the support that is tailored to you!”

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Smoking and Wellbeing Team are proud to have delivered the most successful smoking cessation service in Wales, over the past year, helping thousands to quit smoking for good.

In 2023-24 Hywel Dda UHB treated 8.9 per cent of its regions smokers, almost double the national average in Wales (5 per cent) and more than triple the rate in England (2.6 per cent).

These results and their work continues to raise awareness around the ill health conditions caused by smoking, including lung and mouth cancer. The leading cause of preventable illness and death, smoking tobacco is the biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK. Research also suggests that around 17 per cent of mouth cancers in the UK are caused by smoking.

Shannon Flannagan adds:

"You can tell the support is genuine and they really want you to achieve your goals and everything is done at your pace. I’ve always struggled with quitting and would end up going back to it after a while but I’ve managed to finally quit and resist the temptations! Thanks so much!”

Executive Director of Public Health Dr Ardiana Gjini says: “We are incredibly proud of our team and the communities we serve.”

Hywel Dda UHB’s Smoking and Wellbeing Team offers sessions with trained advisors, a structured programme tailored to your needs, access to stop smoking medication and free nicotine replacement therapy.

All services are free and available across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire.

For more information on how to access the service contact 0300 303 9652 or email [email protected] .