Smokers are being encouraged to quit through a series of events to mark No Smoking day.

Members of Kingston Hospital’s occupational health team and the stop smoking service are taking carbon monoxide readings and discussing treatment options with hospital visitors today.

Director of Nursing and Patient Experience Jenny Parr said: "Giving up smoking is an important step in improving overall health and patients at Kingston Hospital are encouraged to use their hospital stay as an opportunity to utilise the Stop Smoking Service and quit for good."

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is also targeting smokers with mental health problems, as they said the prevalence of smoking is significantly higher among people with mental illness.

Paul Smith* from Kingston suffers from mental health problems and used to smoke up to 30 cigarettes a day.

Despite trying to give up the habit for years he had no lasting success until he was offered one-to-one support and two nicotine replacement therapies from the stop smoking service.

The 33-year-old has not smoked for six weeks and said being helped by someone with a background in mental health and smoking was key.

For more information about the Kingston Hospital Stop Smoking Advisor service phone 020 8546 7711 Ext 2081 or visit smokefreekingstonandrichmond.nhs.uk.

* Name changed