Stoptober: Housekeeper Jeffrey quits smoking thanks to UHNM support

Did you know that UHNM also provides support to members of staff who want to quit smoking?

Meet Jeffrey Deguzman, who’s worked as a housekeeper on the Royal Stoke’s Respiratory Ward (Ward 222) for the past eight years. 

Jeffrey, 51, who used to work as a butler in the Philippines before moving to the UK, had smoked for 30 years and tired on several occasions to quit. 

But with the help and support of the UHNM’s Tobacco Dependency Team, Jeffrey was finally able to kick the habit in January this year.

He told us: “I was more of a social smoker, I’d smoke whilst playing darts with friends about four nights a week. When you’re young you don’t think about the consequences of things like smoking, but as you get older your priorities change, and you start to think of your family and how your health impacts them. Every January, I made it my New Year’s resolution to quit, but only managed three months at the most. 

“For eight years I’d smoked whilst working on the Royal Stoke’s Respiratory ward, I was quite a hard-headed person, but this year was different though, as I joined the UHNM Stop Smoking Programme after speaking to colleagues about what support was available.   

“For three months I attended stop smoking sessions which were a big help. I only used the gum and inhalers once as I found I didn’t need to use them, it was all willpower. 

“My health has improved- I play basketball and have found a passion for mountain biking, with the money saved from smoking going on that. 

“My advice to anybody looking to quit is change your routine. Some people smoke when they wake up or before work, I still go out with my friends but have a coffee now rather than a cigarette.” 

Kimberly Perickathara, Tobacco Dependency Lead Nurse at UHNM said: “Smoking is the number one health inequality in the UK and can lead to severe health implications for our staff. We want to try and reduce these implications colleagues may be experiencing by offering them a range of help and support, which will also save them a lot of money- the average smoker spends around £4,000 a year on smoking products.

“I’m really excited to see some real benefits to our colleague’s health and lives. Research shows that smokers who have someone to help them quit are more likely to succeed.”