Stop Smoking Training

Buckinghamshire Public Health are running two bespoke 1-hour online evening training sessions for VBA+ which is being offered specifically to Dentists/Doctors/Pharmacists/AHP and is free of charge.

Click on the Eventbrite link to book a place:

1. Wednesday 8^th July 2026, 7-8pm:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984812706234?aff=oddtdtcreator
2. Wednesday 24^th March 2027, 7-8pm:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1985145121497?aff=oddtdtcreator

What is VBA?

Very Brief Advice (VBA) is a 30 second conversation designed to be used opportunistically with someone who smokes. Anyone can deliver VBA; ideally all frontline staff in a variety of settings should be trained. Delivered correctly, VBA can trigger a quit attempt, whether immediate or simply raising the idea of quitting in future. The key to success is repeated, routine delivery of VBA to all smokers.

Who for?

Anyone who has a role which engages with the residents of Buckinghamshire.

Why?

• 8.2% of Buckinghamshire residents — that is about 1 in 12. This represents a significant portion of the population affected by tobacco use.
• An estimated 2,120 people in Buckinghamshire are out of work due to smoking-related issues.  Therefore, smoking not only harms health but also undermines economic productivity.
• Around 450 deaths each year in Buckinghamshire are attributed to smoking. For every smoker who dies, another 30 are suffering serious smoking-related diseases.
• Approximately 18,600 children in Buckinghamshire live in households where smoking occurs and each year, around 690 children in the county begin smoking — a concerning trend for future public health.
• 34.6% of adults aged 18+ with serious mental illness in Buckinghamshire are smokers. This rate is significantly higher than the general population, highlighting a vulnerable group in need of targeted support.
• Around 11,700 households in Buckinghamshire fall below the poverty line once smoking-related expenses are accounted for.  So, tobacco use contributes to financial hardship, compounding social inequalities.
• Below is the gap in years a man or woman born in the least deprived areas of Buckinghamshire (DQ1) is expected to live, versus one born in an Opportunity Bucks (most deprived) wards (DQ5). Half of this difference in life expectancy is thought to be due to smoking:
• Male life expectancy:  83.3 years (DQ1) vs 77.9 years (DQ5)
• Female life expectancy:  86.9 years (DQ1) vs 81.5 years (DQ5)

Smoking is a chronic relapsing condition therefore the offer of help can trigger a quit attempt plus providing a positive picture of what this help might look like is also important, so the key is to localise the VBA as much as possible, as effective use of VBA can support people who have relapsed to feel empowered to try again.

We invite you to take part in this focused and collaborative effort to get support to people who smoke, to meet them where they are and help Buckinghamshire be smokefree.