A father quits smoking with UHNM’s support and invests in his daughter’s future

A Stoke-on-Trent father who had been smoking for more than 20 years and previously struggled to quit on his own has been smoke-free for 12 weeks now, thanks to the support from the Tobacco Dependency team at UHNM. 

Mohammed, 39, grew up in a home where cigarettes were simply part of everyday life. “I’ve been smoking since the age of 16, he said. Peer pressure, seeing my dad smoke, seeing my friends smoke, that’s how it started. Before you know it, I was going through 20 cigarettes a day.”

Like many smokers, Mohammed didn’t realise how much smoking was affecting his health and daily life until he became a father four years ago, he told us, “When you're younger, you don’t realise the impact, but as you get older, it really does affect you. You can’t play with your kids because you’re out of breath.

My daughter is very active and when she wanted to run around the park, I couldn’t keep up with her. I didn’t want my daughter to grow up thinking it’s normal for her dad to smoke. There is also the financial cost. I calculated that I was spending £500 a month on cigarettes. That’s a fair chunk, so I decided to give that £500 a month to my daughter instead for her future.”

Mohammed decided to seek help to quit from the specialist Tobacco Dependency team at UHNM as he prepares for a future surgery: “Every morning, I would wake up coughing like a chimney for the first 15 minutes. My chest felt heavy and my breathing was heavy, so I asked for help to quit smoking.”

With support from the team and nicotine replacement therapy patches, Mohammed began his journey to becoming smoke-free. He said: “If it wasn’t for Jayne, my Tobacco Dependency Advisor, I don’t think I would have stopped smoking. Understanding why I was smoking was key, and the support was completely non-judgmental.”

Tracking his progress using a carbon monoxide monitor helped him stay motivated. “When I first blew into the monitor, it was red. After just a week, I was already down in the green. Seeing that improvement visually really helped me.”

Now 12 weeks smoke-free, Mohammed says the benefits have been immediate and encourages others who want to quit to seek support: “My breathing is better. I spend a lot more time with my family. When we go to the park, I stay and play with my daughter instead of going off to have a cigarette. And my car doesn’t smell of cigarettes anymore.

It’s not impossible to quit, you just need the right people in the right places to support you, and the motivation to quit.”

From 1 April 2026, UHNM will become completely smoke-free across all sites, including Royal Stoke University Hospital, County Hospital in Stafford and the Stoke-on-Trent Community Diagnostic Centre. This means smoking will not be permitted anywhere on Trust grounds, including car parks and outdoor areas.

Kimberly Perickathara, UHNM Tobacco Dependency Lead Nurse, said: "We know quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Our smoke-free commitment reflects our dedication to creating a healthier environment for everyone who uses our services. We’re here to support patients and staff every step of the way."

Free stop-smoking support is available for inpatients, outpatients, visitors and staff at any of the Trust’s sites. You can self-refer for smoking cessation support by texting “QUIT” to 07768 926537 for free support.