Chris Huhne

Pharmacists Can Help People Kick The Smoking Habit – Huhne

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne wants people to pay more attention to the services their local pharmacist can provide to help improve health.

Mr Huhne visited local pharmacist Sultan ‘SID’ Dajani of Wainwrights in Bishopstoke to hear about the local health initiatives available at pharmacies.

Mr Huhne is pictured here with Mr Dajani trying the nicotine test that allows pharmacists to calculate the right amount of nicotine substitute to give to smokers that helps them kick the habit.

“Pharmacies are not just places to pop in for a prescription or some toiletries, but can now perform really valuable roles preventing and treating dangerous conditions like diabetes and chlamydia” said Mr Huhne.

“For example, pharmacies can calculate from a simple breath test how much nicotine a smoker is inhaling every day, and can make sure that the right amount is provided instead in one of the smoking substitutes.

“Of the 106 people who have come forward in Bishopstoke in the last seven months alone, 93 have now given up smoking. Not only is their health better, but so is their bank balance” said former smoker Mr Huhne.

Mr Huhne also pointed out that Mr Dajani had assessed 147 for risk of diabetes, and had sent 16 straight to hospital and 39 for further assessment by their general practitioner.