Every link in the health care system has a role to play in spreading the message to stop smoking. Partnering with Canterbury pharmacists in a smoking cessation support programme has taken these efforts from strength to strength this year.

Canterbury calls to Quitline dropped 16%after the earthquakes. As a result of the stress of the quakes, many people who had previously quit took up the habit again. PHC is working with the Ministry of Health for a one-year dispensation to allow Canterbury pharmacists to be Quitcard providers of nicotine replacement therapy, to improve access to support for people wanting to give up.

Partnership Health has also held a series of ongoing workshops called ‘Conversation Starter' - helping community pharmacy staff with the tools and confidence to feel comfortable enough initiating a conversation with a customer about support with smoking cessation.

This training in ‘how to sell the solution' is proving successful, and we have made it into an online educational video, which will be shared nationally. Along with working to reduce smoking rates in our community, the programme has helped us establish a good relationship with pharmacy working together within the ‘one health system' approach.