Services Database Pharmacy Smoking Cessation (Berkshire Area)

The Stop Smoking service in Berkshire was awarded to Solutions4Health (S4H)in January 2012. S4H began providing the service from October 2012.
Pharmacy contractors have several options on what level they engage with the stop smoking service. They can:

• sign up to provide the full service in their pharmacy;
• sign up to allow S4H to provide the service in their pharmacy; or
• sign up to refer patients to S4H

Pharmacies that offer the full service in the pharmacy provide one to one support and advice to people who want to give up smoking on a weekly basis for six to eight weeks. NRT and/or varenicline may be used to achieve 4 and 12 week quitters. Smoking status should be validated using a CO test, and at least 85% of quitters must be proved to be verified this way.

With all of the above options pharmacists can also sign up to provide varenicline to patients referred to them by Solutions4Health under a PGD.

Stop Smoking Advisers must attend an appropriate S4H Adviser course (2 day course) that adheres to training standards approved by NICE or the Health Development Agency. Those working as an adviser will be required to provide evidence of their training certificates.
Where a Stop Smoking Advisor has not provided any stop smoking support for 12 months, the training course must be repeated and completed.
Stop Smoking Advisers should have completed the NCSTC Stage 1 online training and completed Level 1 and Level 2 S4H training (classroom led). It is also recommended that Advisers complete the Motivational Interviewing training and the more in-depth NRT training; however, these are optional. S4H will offer regular training and refresher courses throughout the year to develop the skills of Advisors including Pharmacotherapy.