Smoking Cessation Service
The community pharmacy regional smoking cessation service offers smokers a 12-week programme of behavioural support and allows the weekly supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) if appropriate.
In order to provide the service:
- The recommended training from 2024/25 onwards is the PHA commissioned Specialist Smoking Cessation training https://training.cancerfocusni.org/
The NICPLD ‘A to Z of Smoking Cessation’ distance learning package is no longer available, however completion of this training prior to 2024/25 is also acceptable.
- Pharmacist/contractor must have contract with PHA.
The service should be delivered in line with:
- Regional pharmacy specialist smoking cessation service guide (2009)
- Quality standards for the delivery of specialist stop smoking services in Northern Ireland (2011)
Data entry and claim forms
- Client details entered onto ELITE- electronic monitoring system.
- Submission of the relevant claim forms electronically to the appropriate local PHA tobacco control contact.
Both to be entered in a timely manner as laid out in the Quality Standards.
Queries should be directed to the PHA tobacco control contacts.
Support documents
PHA tobacco control contact details
Elite User Guide- electronic monitoring and claim system user guide
No smoking month promotional materials 2025
Patient Information Leaflets (PIL)
Pregnancy and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): What you need to know
Correspondence
Stop Smoking Regional Pharmacy Letter 30 August 2024
Stop Smoking contract roll forward and carbon monoxide monitor letter January 23
STOP SMOKING ONLINE TRAINING December 22
Stop Smoking Expired Elite Claims August 22
FAQs
I wish to provide a smoking cessation service in my pharmacy. What is the process?
- Email PHATobaccoAdmin@hscni.net to enquire if funding is available for a new contract. If successful, the service can be provided by a pharmacist who has successfully undertaken the training programme..
I haven’t been able to contact a client for their 4 week follow up. What should I do?
- It is important to ensure client’s details are correctly recorded and checked to ensure that follow-up can be completed effectively at 4 weeks. It should be possible to complete follow up in the pharmacy for those clients getting a weekly supply of NRT. Three attempts at follow up should be undertaken and if telephone contact or face to face review in the pharmacy is not possible, then a letter to the patient should be considered. All attempts should be documented on ELITE.
A client has been receiving NRT for 12 weeks but feels they need more NRT. What are their options?
- If there are particular clients that need additional support beyond the 12 weeks, please speak to the local PHA tobacco control contact.
How do I get more Stop Smoking Client Forms??
- You can request more forms by clicking on the link ‘Contact Coordinator’ within stopsmokingNI.com, state approximately how many forms are required.
For further FAQs see Regional pharmacy specialist smoking cessation service guide (2009) page 12 &13.