Today, on No Smoking Day, NHS Greater Manchester is encouraging smokers across the region to take their first step towards quitting. Smoking rates have fallen to their lowest-ever level of 12.5% across Greater Manchester, with 36,800 adults quitting in the past year alone – bringing the city-region closer to the national Smokefree 2030 target. With more tailored support available than ever before, now is a good time to take that first step towards quitting for good.
Smoking in Greater Manchester
Smoking remains the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in Greater Manchester, with around 3,900 smoking-related deaths every year*. Thousands more live with smoking-related conditions, impacting not just their health, but also their ability to work and live independently. An estimated 14,700 people in Greater Manchester are out of work due to smoking-related health issues, and 58,200 people rely on informal care from family or friends.
Despite this, most smokers want to quit. Research shows that those who use stop smoking services are three times more likely to succeed than those who go it alone.
Support to quit – you don’t have to do it alone
NHS Greater Manchester is committed to helping people quit in a way that works for them. Free support is available, including.
Local stop smoking services
Expert one-to-one support tailored to each person’s needs.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
Including smoking cessation medication as well as patches, gum, and lozenges to help manage cravings.
Smoke Free App
Free six-month premium access to 24/7 stop smoking advisors for Greater Manchester residents, including health benefits and money saving calculators, as well as a host of other motivational features
Support with switching to vaping
Vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, as it is less harmful than smoking. While not completely risk-free, it is safer than continuing to smoke. Support is available to help smokers transition to vaping as a step towards quitting nicotine altogether.
Medications on prescription
Varenicline and Cytisine are highly effective treatments that help break the addiction to smoking. These are available on prescription to support quitting.
Find out more on the Make Smoking History website or call the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline on 0300 123 1044.
Towards a smokefree NHS
As part of our commitment to a smokefree future, hospitals across Greater Manchester are working towards becoming completely smokefree ahead of proposed legislation banning smoking outside hospitals and schools – a move supported by 8 out of 10 Greater Manchester residents.
To support this, NHS teams now have access to a Smokefree Hospitals Toolkit, designed to help them implement smokefree policies, engage patients, and provide stop smoking support. With the legislation expected to go through Parliament later this year, work is already underway to ensure clear communication, staff training, and appropriate measures are in place to help create healthier hospital environments for everyone.
The legislation aims to ban smoking in outdoor areas like outside schools and hospitals, helping to reduce smoking and protect public health, especially for children. This move is about creating a smoke-free generation and easing the pressure on the NHS by reducing smoking-related health problems and the cost associated with treatment.
Specialist stop smoking support is already in place for patients, particularly those in mental health services, where quitting can have a significant impact on recovery. This includes The CURE Project, a programme providing in-hospital support and follow-up care to help patients quit permanently.
Clinical opinion
Dr Matt Evison, Clinical Lead for Greater Manchester’s Make Smoking History programme, said:
“Every day I see people whose lives have been cut short or severely impacted by smoking. The good news is, it’s never too late to stop – and your body starts to recover almost immediately. Our ambition is to create a smokefree Greater Manchester, including within our hospitals, where smoking is no longer the norm, and everyone has the support they need to quit for good.
“This No Smoking Day, we’re urging people to take that first step. With the right support, you’re much more likely to succeed.”
Whether it’s your first attempt or you’ve tried before, help is available. Make this No Smoking Day the day you quit – for good.
Find your nearest stop smoking service
