A new program in the province’s two major hospitals will provide patients who smoke the support they need to quit, says Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie.
“The Province of Prince Edward Island is committed to providing Islanders the necessary support they need to combat tobacco issues,” said Minister Currie. “The health care system is expanding with the introduction of new programs to prevent disease and we will continue to pursue these and other initiatives to improve the health of Islanders.”
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and Prince County Hospital (PCH) have recently implemented an in-patient smoking cessation program called the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation for in-patients who express a desire to quit smoking. The goal of the program is to increase the number of patients who are able to achieve long-term smoking cessation by offering best practice tobacco dependancy treatment while they are in hospital and with post-hospital follow-up. The program has been implemented in over 60 hospitals across Canada and is considered best practice in hospital-based smoking cessation.
“Smoking cessation is recognized as one of the most important interventions in preventative medicine and a key component of self-management of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” said Marilyn Barrett, manager of Chronic Disease Prevention and Management for Health PEI. “Quitting smoking is one of the most important things we can do to improve our health.”
“We are pleased to be launching this program to patients who smoke and want to quit as approximately 20 per cent of current patients admitted to our hospitals are smokers,” said Kelley Rayner, QEH director of Hospital Services. “Support and intervention by health care professionals, including education and therapies, has been shown to increase a smokers willingness to quit while they are in hospital and improve the rate success for long-term cessation.”
The Department of Health and Wellness and Health PEI also work collaboratively to support tobacco reduction and control efforts through the QuitCare program offered by Addictions Services, nicotine replacement therapies, funding towards the Smokers’ Helpline (toll-free/online), financial support and collaboration with partners of the Prince Edward Island Tobacco Reduction Alliance (PETRA) and enforcement of the Tobacco Sales and Access Act and Smoke-Free Places Act.
Legislative changes to strengthen the Smoke-Free Places Act implemented in 2009 prohibit smoking in motor vehicles when minors are present. Government also made amendments prohibiting smoking on hospital grounds, with the exception of Hillsborough Hospital. The amendments proposed to the General Regulations made under the Act also limit outdoor smoking areas in certain public places, including patios and decks of eating establishments and licensed premises.
“This week is National Non-Smoking Week, an opportunity for all Islanders to consider what we can do to proactively prevent the unnecessary harm caused by tobacco,” said Minister Currie. “By working together, we can effectively address the health consequences of tobacco use on Prince Edward Island.”
For more information on Health PEI programs and services, please visit www.healthpei.ca. For more information on the QuitCare program call 1-888-299-8399 or for Smoker’s Helpline call 1-877-513-5333.