29 July Cancer Institute NSW - Take one small step to make one big difference July 29, 2018 By Cancer New South Wales 0 Despite the significant reduction in smoking rates across NSW, tobacco remains the largest cause of preventable disease and death in NSW with over 47,000 people hospitalised and nearly 5,500 deaths attributed to smoking each year. Despite the significant reduction in smoking rates across NSW, tobacco remains the largest cause of preventable disease and death in NSW with over 47,000 people hospitalised and nearly 5,500 deaths attributed to smoking each year. Of particular concern are the smoking rates of high risk populations, including pregnant women, people at socio-economic disadvantage or who live with mental health conditions. One in 12 pregnant women and one in five of people with the highest socio-economic disadvantage smoke. People with a mental health issue are twice as likely to smoke as people without, and despite being as ready to quit, they are less likely to have access to cessation resources and treatment. The NSW Quitline is a free, evidence-based service that can help you further support patients at risk of tobacco-related disease and can double their chances of quitting smoking successfully. As health professionals, you can all play a part in helping your patients by simply referring to the NSW Quitline. Making a NSW Quitline referral is simple, with easily accessible resources that you can complete in a matter of minutes. The Cancer Institute NSW has also launched a new online referral form and, where consent is provided, feedback from NSW Quitline can keep referrers more closely connected to the progress of their patients. A NSW Quitline referral is a small step that can make a big difference to the health and lives of your patients, and help reduce preventable tobacco-related disease in our community. Visit www.cancerinstitute.org.au/quitline-referral for more information. Related Articles National Cancer Screening Register to commence supporting the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program From 18 November 2019, the National Cancer Screening Register (the National Register) will begin supporting the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). Small employers urged to make the switch to Single Touch Payroll Small employers urged to make the switch to Single Touch Payroll Cancer Council NSW reveals Australia is on track to stop cervical cancer Australia is set to become the first country in the world to eliminate a deadly cancer thanks to an approach that is saving lives. New research from Cancer Council NSW has shown that if vaccination and screening coverage levels are maintained rates of diagnosis will drop Major step forward in cancer research Australian scientists have taken a "major step forward" in the world of cancer research with the discovery of a new type of drug that can put cancer cells in animals into a permanent state of sleep. How GPs can help combat Australia’s second biggest cancer killer Australia’s first major national mass media campaign promoting bowel cancer screening launches. AIHW Cancer Compendium Report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with information and trends by cancer type. Comments are closed.