Your Local Independent 188

December 2024 Page 21 AD SALES 01204 478812 A NEW tree has been planted in Bolton’s Queens Park to remind people of the role they can play in helping care leavers to succeed and thrive as adults. The ‘Postivitree’ was planted to mark National Care Leavers Week, which aims to raise awareness of the additional challenges care leavers can face. It was planted by Bolton’s mayor Andy Morgan, the council’s executive member for children’s services Martin Donaghy and local care leavers. always loved working here in this team which has had excel- lent leadership and culture and to repeat this is a massive honour for me. “It has been a pleasure working with you all and I know you will continue to deliver a high-qual- ity service in the professional and friendly manner that you do.” AMAJOR new initiative has been launched to help people across Bolton borough quit smoking. Smokefree Bolton aims to help more people give up the habit, “creating a positive movement for local people and communities to become healthier, hap- pier, and financially better off”. It is aimed at smokers aged 12 years and over, and will offer free personal- ised support and nicotine replacement therapies to quit the habit for good. The project is being delivered by com- munity stop smoking services including Your Health Bolton, Bolton Pharma- cies and Bolton NHS as well as using mobile apps. There is also support from national companies such as Allen Carr’s Easy- way Stop Smoking method. New scan room opens Opening ceremony: Dr Tomlinson and members of the maternity unit team A NEW scan roomhas opened in Royal Bolton Hospital’s Maternity Unit to provide high quality care to mums and babies. Retired obstetric consultant Doctor John Tomlinson returned to open The Tomlinson Suite, which has been named after him. It recognises John’s many years of commitment to the Ultrasound Department and the specialist foetal ultrasound service at Bol- ton NHS Foundation Trust. Throughout his career as a consultant, John was dedicated to providing high quality care to mums and babies in some of the most challenging situations. During John’s speech he high- lighted how the scan machines have got better along with many developments that have occurred over the years. He said: “It is such a great honour to open this room. I have A growing sense of ‘positivitree’ Raising awareness: The tree planting in Queens Park It’s time to quit! New drive aims to stub out smoking HEALTH SPECIAL diseases, cancer, dementia and other serious health conditions. Smokers on average will lose 10 years of their life if they continue to smoke. “The great news is that almost half of smokers say they want to quit, and after 28 smokefree days they are five times more likely to quit for good.” After 30 years of smoking, Michael Kitchen decided to quit for his health and finances. Struggling with asthma and feeling the toll on his lungs, he found support through his local stop-smoking service. With nicotine patches, a vape, and the encouragement of his community, Michael has seen a huge improvement in his breathing and energy levels. Michael said: “Knowing there was some real support out there and some- one I could check in with each week gave me the confidence to get involved.” “Now my priority is being healthy, watching my children grow up or becoming a grandfather one day – by stopping smoking I’m giving myself the best chance of doing this.” Lynn Donkin, Bolton’s director of public health, said: “Reducing harm caused by smoking is a public health priority in Bolton.” “We have some of the highest smoking rates in the country and this addiction is causing avoidable illness, disability and death to residents in our borough.” “The majority of smokers tell us they wish they had never started. I want people to know that it’s never too late to stop and that this free support from our friendly expert teams can really boost your chances of quitting for good.” Sean Fielding, Bolton Council’s exec- utive member for adults, health, and wellbeing, added: “With this substan- tial funding, we have a unique oppor- tunity to empower residents to make life changing decisions. “Smokefree Bolton will provide the support and resources needed to help more people quit smoking and lead healthier lives.” Quit smoking with Smokefree Bolton – visit: https://letskeepboltonmoving. co.uk/smoking.php The project’s leaders say quitting is a great opportunity to improve health overnight and typically save £2,000 a year on average buying cigarettes. The government is providing extra funding for Bolton to strengthen its stop smoking services and encourage more people to make a quit attempt. Initially the funding is for one year, but this may be extended to an addi- tional four years to help achieve the ambition of reducing smoking to five per cent or less of the population by 2030 in England. Bolton has a higher proportion of smokers than in other parts of the country on average, with approximately 44,000 people lighting up each day across the borough. A spokesperson for Smokefree Bolton said: “Most people start smoking as children or young people and become highly addicted to the nicotine con- tained in tobacco products. “This is bad news for the health of local people as smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, respiratory