Support for patients
Our pharmacists provide leadership in the identification, assessment and management of patients who smoke or use e-cigarettes. Such management approaches include brief advice to quit and the provision of supports such as nicotine replacement therapy (as appropriate) and behavioural support.
“As a healthcare worker its second nature to want to decrease risks for patients more vulnerable to severe disease complications, and helping as many people to quit as I can is a part of this. Support helps to build the person’s confidence in quitting and this is vital. You just have to give it a go. People tell me all the time that keeping themselves as safe and healthy as possible and reducing their financial stress are worth it”
Katrina Young – Senior Pharmacist, Community Mental Health
Inpatient support
Over 90 per cent of our patients who smoke are identified and offered support.
Pharmacists with clinical expertise in smoking cessation provide tailored support through our Smokefree service.
Outpatient support
The Smokefree Clinic provides expert cessation care for Alfred Health patients who smoke or vape.
Patients who attend the clinic receive advice on a range of pharmacotherapies to assist them to quit and intensive behavioural support.
Patients who attend the clinic are 10 times more likely to quit than unassisted.
Around the health service
Smoking around the health service perimeter has reduced to one-third of the previous level. Significantly, the introduction of a clinical model of care for patients who smoke has led directly to a significant reduction in patients smoking around the perimeter, which has now been sustained for several years.