A day in the life of a tobacco treatment advisor in Stoptober

It's for this annual event, urging people to quit smoking, this is when her role comes into play. 

8:30 AM: Getting Ready for the Day The Healthy Lives team meets at the hospital, stocking up their highly recognisable trolley with an appealing selection of free products: chocolates, sweets, pens, and colourful novelties. They get ready with their highly popular "Spin the Wheel" game-an easygoing way to engage the staff of the hospital through the quit smoking services. As Lucy put it, "We want to get the word out that our support is available for all, including staff members who smoke or vape." This team knows they have a long day of creating awareness and bulding connections ahead. 

9:00 AM – Ward Walks Begin The trolley wheels squeak up and down the corridors as Lucy and her team march from ward to ward. So, on every Thursday during Stoptober, they make it a point to visit all the wards for a very important purpose: to educate and offer support to the patients and staff alike. They make a stop by inviting staff members to come and spin the wheel, answer a very simple question about the Healthy Lives team, and claim their prize, which is a sweet treat from the color-coded basket. "It's engaging, so it's fun for the staff," Lucy says. They also get to participate in a prize draw that would be drawn at the end of the month, so there's always some excitement around it. 

The game is light-hearted, but the mission is serious. Her virtual tour of the hospital finds her speaking to staff who may not realise they have access free of charge to Nicotine Replacement Therapy-the same options offered to the patients. This might just be what will make a teetering person try quitting the smoke. 

11:00 AM – Leadership Support Today, an executive at the hospital has joined Lucy's team, a day of supportive leadership to the campaign. "It's nice to have leadership behind us," says Lucy. That shows that we are all committed to making a real difference." The presence of the exec helps to emphasise the importance of smoking cessation support both for hospital staff and patients, adding that extra layer of encouragement for those who may consider a quit attempt. 

12:30 PM – Meeting with Patients While many of the team members are outdoors promoting Stoptober, other Tobacco Treatment Advisors are out in meeting with the patients who have been referred to them as smokers or vapers during their hospital admission. This is where the challenge actually starts. One of the biggest challenges we face is that for NRT to reach a patient, four groups of people must interact-nurses, doctors, our group, and then more nurses," Lucy explained. If any link in this chain breaks-for example, a doctor forgets to prescribe NRT, or the nurse misses it at medication round-the patient may not get the treatment. 

Today, Lucy is calling a patient who has just started the hospital's 12week quit program. "It's about offering support, not putting pressure on them. We let them decide whether they are ready," she says. Once a patient is committed to quitting, the team stays with them every step of the way, ensuring that they receive the NRT that has been prescribed and calling them on a regular basis to keep them motivated. 

2:30 PM: Success Stories In the afternoon, Lucy headed to the canteen for another Stoptober stand. It is here that one special memory cropped up. "I once met a staff who was really eager to give up smoking here," she recalls. "We worked with him for 12 weeks, providing patches and motivational interviewing. The first few weeks were easy for him, but then it got tougher. He pushed through, and now he's completely smoke-free." Lucy beams with pride as she recounts how this staff member can now even join friends who smoke without feeling the temptation. 

4:00 PM – Maintaining Motivation Lucy is wrapping up the day and wanted to take a moment to reflect on what keeps her motivated in this very taxing position. "You have to have passion for what you do. The drive comes from knowing that even if someone's smoked for years, it's never too late to quit. I love the unpredictability of the job—you never know who you'll meet or what their story will be." 

5:00 PM – Clearing Up As yet another day reaches its end in the heart of Stoptober, Lucy and her group start clearing up the trolley contents, but their minds are already set on next Thursday's round. "Every person we meet is a new opportunity to help someone quit smoking for good," she says. "That's what keeps us coming back, day after day." 

This is Stoptober through the eyes of Lucy: teamwork, patient care, and unwavering dedication to supporting smokers in taking that courageous step toward quitting. 

Want to receive treatment for smoking? Get more info at: Hospital Stop Smoking Service | Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust