HSE encourages smokers in the West to quit smoking today for a healthier you tomorrow

To mark National No Smoking Day on Wednesday, 18 February the HSE is reminding people in the West that HSE Stop Smoking Advisors are ready to help you start your QUIT plan and support you every step of the way.

The HSE Stop Smoking Services are free and available all year round. The HSE provide personalised, evidence-based stop smoking plans, tailored to people’s individual needs. When you engage with the HSE Stop Smoking service you can avail of:

• Free confidential one to one behavioural support with your own trained stop smoking advisor
• Free ongoing Carbon Monoxide Testing to show your improvement over time
• FREE stop-smoking Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) medications to help deal with cravings
• Follow up appointments for one full year in-person, over the phone or online
• Motivational tips to keep you on track

Pauline Connor originally from Ballina, County Mayo and also a staff member at University Hospital Galway has been smoke-free for one year and seven days after successfully completing the HSE Quit Smoking Programme.

“I started smoking when I was about 16 and the number per day just seemed to increase as the years went on. Before I started with a Stop Smoking Adviser, I was smoking 20 cigarettes per day. I tried everything to quit down through the years, and different methods did work, but that was only for a short period of time. Determined to improve my health and quality of life I sought support from the hospital’s Stop Smoking Adviser at work and committed to quitting”

Reflecting on her journey, Pauline Connor said: “Quitting smoking has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, my health has improved and I’m saving money every week. When I saw how quickly my carbon monoxide levels improved after stopping smoking, I was honestly amazed. After smoking for so many years, seeing that change really motivated me to keep going.

“The biggest change for me is being able to travel to see my grandchildren without worrying about smoking or how I’d cope on a flight, I feel freer and healthier.

“The support and NRT made a huge difference, having a clear plan and the right help from my Stop Smoking Adviser, with whom I had a great relationship, kept me focused. I stuck with it, and now I’m over a year smoke-free, something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Ann Marie McGarry, Smoking Cessation Advisor, Galway University Hospitals said: “Pauline’s achievement shows that with the right support and determination, quitting smoking is possible. Stopping smoking is one of the most important lifestyle changes smokers can take to improve their health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory illness, improves overall wellbeing and has immediate benefits such as better breathing and increased energy.

“Stop Smoking Advisors in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo are here to provide practical tools, NRT, guidance and encouragement to help people at every stage of their quit journey.”

The HSE encourages anyone who smokes to consider taking the first step towards quitting. Working with a Stop Smoking Advisor and availing of their support along with NRT you are four times more likely to Quit than doing it alone. More than 1200 smokers were helped in 2025. You could be another in 2026! On National No Smoking day take that first step by contacting our services.

Free, personalised HSE QUIT supports available contact: Quit smoking West, Tel 091 775485 Email: quitsmoking.west@hse.ie or Ann Marie McGarry, Stop Smoking Advisor, Galway University Hospitals, 091 542103 smokingcessation.guh@hse.ie
Visit quit.ie, Freephone QUITline on 1800 201 203 or text 'QUIT' to 50100.