Grandmother shares powerful story ahead of No Smoking Day and historic tobacco legislation
Around 8,200 from across Cheshire & Merseyside have quit with the support of local services during the last year
New ruling would create first-ever ‘smokefree generation’
A Cheshire grandmother who found herself hospitalised and with very low oxygen levels is sharing her story ahead of No Smoking Day (11 March), as landmark legislation to create the first smokefree generation reaches its final stage in Parliament.
Cathy Wareing, 63, from Middlewich, started smoking at just 12 years old after moving to a new school, far from the small village where she had grown up. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she found comfort and a sense of belonging in smoking.
For more than 50 years, Cathy rolled her own cigarettes, getting through a 50g pouch each week. The habit soon took a serious toll on her health and she was admitted to hospital twice with breathing difficulties, with doctors growing concerned about her condition. Her mobility was also affected.
Cathy, a grandmother-of-two, said: “Every time I had a cold, I ended up in hospital. The doctors were worried about me and I had to have oxygen just to breathe properly. It was very scary and it made me think I wouldn’t be able to be with my family for much longer.”
Cathy is one of 8,200 people from across Cheshire & Merseyside who have used local stop smoking services to successfully give up in the past 12 months.
According to research from UCL’s Smoking Toolkit Study, 33.9% of smokers in the North West attempted to quit during the last year, and 38.1% of them succeeded – this equates to an estimated 27,000 people in Cheshire and Merseyside quitting.
Married with two sons aged 35 and 37, and grandchildren aged five and seven, Cathy had tried to stop smoking many times before.
She said: “One of the things that made me hesitant about quitting was the fear of gaining weight. I’d worked hard to lose five stone and didn’t want to undo that progress. In the end though, my health had to come first and as it turned out, I didn’t put any weight on at all.”
With the support and perseverance of her stop smoking coach, she eventually decided to try again and agreed to try vaping, which proved to be the turning point.
She said: “I didn’t want to try vaping at all, but I gave it a chance, and I haven’t looked back. I’m three months smokefree now and I feel so much better. It’s been life changing.”
Cathy says the difference in her health has been remarkable – she no longer needs supplemental oxygen, and her breathing and mobility have both improved significantly.
Today, No Smoking Day (11 March), coincides with the Government’s landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill approaching its final stage in the House of Lords. If passed, the legislation will phase out tobacco sales entirely, by making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. This means the age limit will gradually rise each year, helping to create the first smokefree generation.
Public health leaders in Cheshire and Merseyside say Cathy’s experience shows why support must go hand-in-hand with legislation and urge smokers to use No Smoking Day as a fresh opportunity to quit and to access the free support available in their area.
Dr Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and Lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside’s All Together Smokefree programme, said: “Cathy’s story is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact smoking can have, not just on individuals, but on entire families.
“No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity for people to take that first step towards quitting. We know that people are far more likely to succeed with the right support, and local stop smoking services offer free, expert help that can make all the difference.”
Professor Ian Ashworth, Director of Population Health for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives us a real chance to change the future, so that today’s children grow up in a world where becoming a smoker simply isn’t the norm.
“With the legislation in its final stages, we can protect the next generation from the harms of tobacco. At the same time, we must make sure those who smoke today are given the support they need to quit for good.”
For further information about Cheshire & Merseyside’s quit smoking programme, Smoking Ends Here, and access to support, visit: www.smokingendshere.com
