Information for patients
If you are due to have surgery, the sooner you
stop smoking before your operation the better.
Stopping smoking before your operation has
many potential health benefits. These include
faster recovery times, a reduced risk of
complications associated with having surgery
and better long term outcomes.
Smoking and Surgery
Smoking and surgery carries increased risk.
During the operation, people who smoke:
• Are more likely to need a higher dose
of anaesthesia than people who do not
smoke
• Have decreased blood oxygenation,
leading to decreased oxygen delivery to
tissues
• Are more likely to suffer complications
Post-operatively people who smoke:
• Are more likely to suffer complications
• Have an increased risk of chest
infections and breathing problems
• Have an increased risk of blood clots in
the legs or lungs
• Have a higher risk of lung and heart
complications
• Have a higher risk of infection
• Have slower progress in the healing of
surgical wounds
• Are more likely to be admitted to a High
Care or Intensive Care Unit
• Have an increased risk of dying in hospital
• Are more likely to have a prolonged stay
in hospital or readmission
Health Benefits of Stopping
Smoking
Stopping smoking before your operation
will have many potential health benefits
including:
• A reduced risk of complications
• A shorter stay in hospital
• A faster recovery
• Less chance of infection
• Improved circulation and wound healing
There are also potential long term benefits
of stopping smoking such as reduced risk
of lung cancer and heart disease
Support to Stop Smoking
We know how hard it can be to give up
smoking, but when you’re ready to stop you
don’t have to go it alone.
There is lots of free specialist community
support available if you would like to stop
smoking before your operation.
Specialist community and inpatient services
can support you to make a sustained quit
attempt and help you to stop smoking for good.
Research has shown you are three
times more likely to stop smoking with a
combination of specialist support and nicotine
replacement treatment.
Your ongoing commitment and access to
free support services described on the next
pages can help you reach your goal.
NHS Support Services
The NHS stop smoking services help you quit.
Local stop smoking services are free, friendly
and can massively boost your chances of
quitting for good. These services are staffed
by specialist practitioners who provide a wide
range of proven methods to help you quit.
The specialist practitioners will give you
accurate information and advice, as well
as professional support, during the first few
months you stop smoking.
The service also make it easy and affordable
for you to get stop smoking treatments such
as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
incorporating patches, gum, lozenges,
inhalators and quick mist.
All services provide professional support
which includes:
• Individual support
• Regular weekly sessions for several
weeks
• Specialist trained practitioners
• Support to plan and prepare to quit
• Setting a quit date
• On-going support to quit
• Information about nicotine replacement
therapies
Accessing Services
You can choose to self refer or consent
to be referred by healthcare professionals
into a local community based smoking
cessation service prior to your surgery.
Furthermore our dedicated specialist
Inpatient Smokefree Service will support
you throughout your hospital stay.
Help and Support to Stop Before your Op
Call the free National Smokefree Helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only) or visit
www.nhs.uk/betterhealth
Blackpool Tobacco Addiction Service call free on 0808 196 432
or text ‘QUIT’ to 079909223924 or visit
www.bfwh.nhs.uk/our-services/stopsmoking-service
Quit Squad (Lancashire and North
Lancashire) call free on 0800 328 6297 or
visit www.quitsquad.nhs.uk
Useful Free Apps
NHS Quit Smoking app and My Quit Route App
We are a Smokefree Trust
Blackpool Teaching Hospital is committed to
the health and wellbeing of its staff, patients and visitors.
Please be aware that BTH is a smoke free
organisation and as such smoking is not
permitted in any part of the hospital or grounds.
We are aware this PDF are might not be accessible to all users. If you would like to request an accessible version, please contact bfwh.
Read our accessibility statement to learn more.
Author smokefree service
Approved by TDTS Services Operational Management Meeting
Date of Publication 12/05/2022
Review Date 01/08/2025
Reference No PL/1424 (v1)
