Covid threat motivates Melton woman to quit smoking

Hazel Paterson (43) is being treated for COPD, a serious lung condition.

She realised that her smoking was making it worse and that, as a sufferer, she would also be extremely vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus.

So, Hazel contacted Quit Ready, a free service which supports Leicestershire people who want to give up a cigarettes habit.

She said: “I am being treated for COPD, so stopping smoking really is the best thing I can do to improve my health.

“With Covid-19 being a respiratory virus too, it’s so important that we do whatever we can to give ourselves the best chance against it.”

Hazel says the service has had a much more successful effect than her attempts to go ‘cold turkey’, which lasted only two weeks before she started smoking again.

She spotted the free Quit Ready service on social media and sent the team a message via their website, receiving a call back the following day.

A few months on, and with the support of her specialist adviser as well as quitting aids, Hazel’s relationship with smoking has been transformed:

“I started on e-cigarettes, and as I’m reducing my use of those I occasionally wear a low dose nicotine patch if required,” she explained.

“The programme is brilliant. The support from my case worker, Lauren, has been absolutely fantastic.

“She calls me every week to see how I am doing, and has great tips and advice for staying smoke-free and breaking old habits. I could not have done it without her support.”

Hazel is continuing to practise the positive habit-changing techniques Lauren has equipped her with, as addressing small changes makes a huge overall change to lifestyle and attitude.

She added: “I’m breathing easier, my cough has improved greatly and, as a bonus, I’m £80 a month better off.

“I tell pretty much everyone who will listen about how great the service is, and I have a few friends who have also signed up, or are interested in signing up, as a result.”

“Quit Ready really is a game changer in the fight to quit smoking and I’m so grateful to them for getting and keeping me smoke free.”

Call 0345 6466666 or text ‘ready’ to 66777 to contact the team at Quit Ready.