Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Reasons to stop smoking
- BREATHE EASY: People breathe more easily and cough less when they give up smoking because their lung capacity improves by up to 10% within 9 months.
- LIVE LONGER: Quitting lowers the likelihood of dying early from smoking-related diseases, like heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis
- PROTECT YOUR SIGHT: Stopping smoking helps to improve vision and eye health and slows down the risk of complications from a variety of eye conditions.
- PROTECT YOUR MIND: Quitting can improve your mood, and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
- MORE ENERGY: Within 2 to 12 weeks of stopping smoking, your blood circulation improves. This makes all physical activity, including walking and running, much easier.
- YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE: Stopping smoking has been found to slow facial ageing and delay the appearance of wrinkles. Your teeth will appear less stained over time and the likelihood of getting gum disease is reduced.
- SAVE MONEY: Smoking is expensive - and prices will continue to rise. If you're smoking 20 cigarettes a day, you’re likely to be spending about £5,400 a year (£105 a week as of 2026).
How to stop smoking
One way to quit is with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and support. Ward staff will be happy to arrange NRT for you whilst you are in hospital. Nicotine patches, inhalators and other products are available.
These products are FREE for any smoker whilst admitted to a ward. Please ask for NRT to support your efforts to quit.
Please ask a nurse if you would like to speak with a Tobacco Dependency adviser during your hospital stay, if they haven't already visited.
Getting Support and Help at Home
When you leave hospital, ongoing support and medication can be provided by the community stop smoking services. If you have asked for a referral to a stop smoking service and have not heard from them a week after you go home, please call your local service using the information below.
| Berkshire & Bracknell Forest residents Tel: 0800 622 6360 / 0118 449 2026 Text: ‘Quit’ to 66777 www.smokefreelifeberkshire.com |
Buckinghamshire residents Tel:03332 300177 https:/ |
| Hampshire residents Tel: 0800 772 3649 / 01264 563039 www. |
London Borough residents https:/ |
| Slough residents Tel: 0800 0614734 / 01753 373646 Text QUIT to 66777 www. |
Surrey residents Tel: 01737 652168 www. |
If you did not ask for a referral but would now like to quit you can refer yourself to your local service or:
- GO ONLINE to http://
- CALL the NHS smoking helpline: 0300 123 1044, or
DOWNLOAD the NHS Quit Smoking app on the app store or use one of the Link below.
App store: Download
Google Play: Download
Great News!
Recent evidence shows that having support with stop smoking services is three times as effective as quitting unaided.
If you have any smoking or vape related concerns regarding your planned hospital stay, please do not hesitate to contact the tobacco team fhft.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Tobacco dependency service.
About this information
Service:
Tobacco dependency
Reference:
DD/013
Approval date:
16 February 2026
Review date:
1 February 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.