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Stoptober is back, calling on smokers in Sefton to join more than 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it launched a decade ago in 2012. Nearly 6 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the single biggest behavioural cause of preventable death, with 64,000 deaths a year.

This year’s Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting being one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. That’s why this year’s Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to join the thousands of others who are giving quitting a go for the month of October – making it to 28 days smoke free means you’re five times as likely to quit for good. Quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily – and give you more money to spend.

Quitting with others, together with the range of support offered, means that Stoptober can trigger resolve and boost confidence, motivation and readiness, making smokers realise that they are stronger and better prepared than they think and setting them up for long term success.

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “Stoptober presents a great opportunity for people who have been thinking about giving up smoking to take on the challenge and start living a healthier lifestyle. I encourage any smoker to take advantage of the campaign and improve their wellbeing.”

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool. It provides information and advice on proven quitting methods – expert support from local Stop Smoking Services and the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit. Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information or visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/

The ‘Living Well’ bus is returning to Netherton on Tuesday 20 September to offer free holistic health checks and first, second or booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Sefton residents, including the seasonal (autumn) booster for those eligible.

The bus will be parked outside Netherton Activity Centre from 10:30am-4pm and residents can come along throughout the day with no appointments needed.

COVID-19 vaccines will be available for anyone aged five and older who has not yet been vaccinated, or who has missed their second jab or first booster dose. The team will also be offering the seasonal (autumn) booster to those who are currently eligible. You can find more details about this on the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

Free health checks will also be available for residents aged 18 and over, which include a pulse check and blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood glucose check and a BMI check, which will help to spot early signs of conditions like stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Residents who are unable to visit the Living Well bus this time can also access free blood pressure checks at the Strand By Me shop in Bootle Strand shopping centre until March 2023.