Stop-smoke midwife targets mums-to-be (From Ledbury Reporter)

Stop-smoke midwife targets mums-to-be

3:15pm Wednesday 5th December 2007

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AN innovative "stop-smoking" midwife is helping Herefordshire mums-to-be cut down on the dreaded weed.

In a report to go to the county's primary care trust on Thursday, health boss Dr Frances Howie praised the midwife's work, especially with women from lower income groups and hard to reach groups.

"She not only works with pregnant women, but also with partners and close family members, knowing that this will improve the mothers' chances of quitting successfully, as well as protecting the babies' health," she said. "This will also help reduce the risks of second-hand smoke to other children in the home."

In 2006/7, 154 pregnant women were referred to the specialist midwife. 121 of these set dates to give up smoking, and 34 quit at four weeks.

"Although this midwife promotes total quitting rather than reducing cigarette consumption, she also supports women who are able to reduce to 1-2 cigarettes daily and have vastly reduced carbon monoxide readings but are not recorded in quit rates," said Dr Howie.

The midwife also saw non-pregnant people who wanted to give up, and 119 set quit dates and 61 were quit at four weeks "Herefordshire's Stop Smoking in Pregnancy service has been cited as an example of best practice," said Dr Howie. "The Stop Smoking Service is a well-staffed and active one and has always exceeded the local targets set by the Department of Health."

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