In The Spotlight - Cathy Fisher
People are at the centre of everything we do. Those who work at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board make a difference to people’s lives every single day.
Each month, the In The Spotlight campaign shines a light on the different people who make up Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, from those who support behind the scenes, to those who have passions that led them to work in their role.
As an organisation with over 17,000 colleagues, the campaign will highlight the variety of roles, teams and individuals across the health board. Working in the NHS can be life-changing, both for colleagues and for the patients they help.
Cathy Fisher is a Smoking Cessation Specialist who works with smokers in Cardiff and the Vale to help them quit through use of products and behavioural support.
“I’m part of the ‘Help Me Quit’ community service team. I attend different GP surgeries across Cardiff and Vale and support clients through their quit journey.
”Quitting smoking is very tough for the vast majority of the people I see. It takes a lot of willpower and determination."
The number of smokers in Cardiff and Vale still sits at 13% (as of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 combined). The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board overall goal is to reduce smoker numbers down to less than 5% by 2030.
“We do our best to reach as many people as we can through the ‘Help Me Quit’ service, and we encourage every healthcare professional to ask their patients if they smoke, and if so, to refer them onto us for support and advice, to help us all achieve this target.”
What should people expect from the Help Me Quit service if they get referred?
“First of all, all Help Me Quit services are completely free. Those who are referred will have a call from either the Help Me Quit centre or one of the community team specialists. We then arrange an appointment to come in for an assessment.
“We will support you for a minimum of seven weeks through either telephone sessions, face to face or group sessions, depending on your preference. You can also ask about the service if you are admitted to hospital as the specialist smoking cessation service will be there to offer support while you are unwell.
“You can contact your local pharmacy to see if they have a Stop Smoking pharmacist available that offers our service. If not, they will let you know the nearest one to you.
“We also provide 12 weeks of free stop-smoking products. This amounts to around £250-£300 worth of products. Research has shown that an individual is three times more likely to have a successful quit through use of products and behavioural support, than if they try and quit alone.
“It is a privilege to support each and every person towards success, and it’s so rewarding to see how quitting smoking changes their lives and health physically, emotionally and financially.
“We are friendly and approachable, and we certainly won’t judge anyone.”
To get in touch with the Help Me Quit team, you can self-refer by calling 0800 085 2219, request a call back online from Help Me Quit | Stop Smoking Services In Wales or text HMQ to 80818. You can also ask to be referred by your GP or practice nurse by asking about Help Me Quit next time you have an appointment.