A member of domestic staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has quit smoking after a health scare where she felt unable to breathe.

Annette Williams, from Newcastle under Lyme, said a trip to hospital was the wake-up call she needed to stop smoking.

She said: "It scared me being ill. 

"I honestly thought I was going to die. 

"At 37, you should be able to breathe and I couldn't." 

Annette started smoking at the age of 14 and has tried to quit multiple times without success.

She was helped by the Trust's Tobacco Dependency team who routinely give patients advice and support while they give up smoking.

Tobacco dependency practitioner, Gioarnie Cereno, started Annette on her journey to quitting smoking while she was in hospital.

advertisement

Gioarnie said: "Annette has made excellent progress over four weeks, reducing her nicotine replacement and continuing with an inhalator as needed. 

"Her journey shows the impact of making every contact count and supports UHNM's commitment to being a smoke-free trust, improving wellbeing for patients, staff and visitors."   

Annette continued with the service after she was discharged.

She now attends regular appointments and uses a nicotine inhalator to help manage cravings.

Speaking about the help of the team and her decision to quit smoking, Annette said: "Knowing someone has your back makes a massive difference." 

"I used to have to stop walking up the hill into the hospital, now I don't and that says everything."  

"I don't ever want to feel how I felt when I was admitted, life is good now."  

She is proud of how far she has come and wants other people to know help is out there.

UHNM is a smoke-free trust and says they are "committed to strengthening prevention and creating cleaner, safer and healthier hospitals for everyone."

The Trust is keen that people are aware of the free stop-smoking support "available for inpatients, outpatients, visitors and staff at both Royal Stoke and County Hospital."

To get help text QUIT" to 07768 926537.