A Kingsway man says free local support helped him finally quit smoking after major surgery, and now he wants others to follow his lead.
A Rochdale man who smoked for more than four decades has urged others to quit after surviving a heart attack and undergoing triple bypass surgery.
Dean King, 60, from the Kingsway area, had smoked up to 30 cigarettes a day since he was just 13. But after a life-threatening heart attack led to major surgery, he says it became clear: he had to stop.
“I’m a true believer that you don’t waste the time, money and effort of professionals,” said Dean, speaking as this year’s Stoptober campaign draws to a close. “They told me, ‘You’ve got to quit’, and that was my final straw.”
He began receiving support through Living Well, Rochdale’s free stop smoking service, and now describes it as “superb”.
He said: “I got a phone call from a woman called Asma who invited me in. When you’re quitting, you’re edgy and agitated, but as soon as I walked through the door, I was put at ease.”
Dean added that although he still has the occasional craving, the support has been “second to none”.
“It’s a drop-in centre. You can just pick up the phone, and the help is there.”
Before quitting, Dean spent hundreds of pounds every month on cigarettes, buying up to six sleeves at a time. Now, he says, that money is being used to treat himself in healthier ways.
“I’ve just booked a week away in November and a week in Greece next March, which I would not normally do,” he said.
He also praised the one-to-one support offered through Living Well: “They’ve helped me manage cravings and kept me going. I’ve smoked for over 40 years, if I can quit, anyone can.”
Residents across the borough can still access stop smoking support through the Living Well service this Stoptober. The service offers nicotine replacement aids like patches, gum and e-cigarettes, alongside personalised quit plans and expert behavioural advice.
Kuiama Thompson, Rochdale’s director of public health and communities, said: “Sometimes it takes a serious wake-up call to realise what we have and what we could lose.
“I’m really pleased to hear Dean has quit. I hope his story inspires others across the borough to stop smoking too, it’s one of the best things you can do for your health.
“Quitting also helps reduce the huge pressures on the NHS caused by smoking-related illness.”
The NHS spends more than £1.9 billion annually treating smoking-related diseases.
For details of local support sessions and how to access the Living Well service, residents can visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/stoptober
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