MoH Smokefree Target Reached
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has been congratulated for its hard work in achieving the “Better help for Smokers to Quit” health target of 90% for 2010/11.
In September 2011, the Hon Tony Ryall, Minister of Health presented the DHB with a Certificate of Achievement. This award was given in recognition of the focused approach by medical, nursing and allied health staff across the Nelson Marlborough district, supported by the Smokefree team which resulted in moving its target from 52% to 90%.
“This is not just a box-ticking exercise, it’s about saving lives,” says Kate Flack, Smokefree Coordinator. “Sustainability is achieved by embedding the understanding that this is the responsibility of all health care professionals to ask smoking status, offer brief advice and offer cessation support.”
At Nelson Marlborough DHB in the last three months, 966 smokers were admitted to hospitals and 867 were offered brief advice to quit. That equates to 22 fewer smokers and 325 years of life added back into the community.
