A pilot in-house stop smoking service has become the Pride of Airedale for their work to help pregnant smokers to quit, increasing the likelihood of a heathier pregnancy and a healthier baby.
Picking up the award were Zoe Ludgate, Early Intervention Midwife and Kelly Haslam, Maternity Support Worker. Zoe is developing the in-house stop smoking service replacing an older model of referral to outside agencies. It means that smokers can be referred from their first appointment to a local service delivered by the community team. Midwives can provide nicotine replacement products directly instead of patients having to go to the GP or pharmacy. Behavioural therapy to support women in their journey to stop smoking during pregnancy is also available. The pilot service runs in Keighley, the area identified as having the highest prevalence of smoking across Airedale.
Community maternity support workers, like Kelly, provide support in the stop smoking clinics. Kelly was recognised for her passion and dedication with colleagues saying that she goes above and beyond to make sure the service runs well and women receive the support they need. The pilot has seen good compliance to setting quit dates, engagement with the service and successful attempts at stopping smoking. Training is on-going within the community team to roll out the pilot across the whole of Airedale from April 2024.
Zoe described how: “On 4 January we had our first baby born to a mum who had used the maternity in-house stop smoking service in the first week of it being available. Mum had been a smoker for 20 years smoking 20 cigarettes a day so she knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Although she was willing to take advantage of the support on offer, she was understandably dubious whether she would actually be able to quit or not. To her credit, she persisted and we provided weekly behavioural support and nicotine replacement therapy for 12 weeks. Kelly, who developed a great rapport with mum-to-be, also gave public health advice including around safe sleeping and breastfeeding.
“I was so pleased when she told me: “If I can do it, anyone can do it”, a quote which I’ve used with other women who feel they might lack the motivation.”
For more support and resources to quit smoking during pregnancy see our mum can page.
The Pride of Airedale Awards, hosted by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, rewards those who do an exceptional job, whatever it is. All winners are nominated by their colleagues.