The ‘HERS’ scheme: a holistic approach to stop smoking in pregnancy

Authors:
Jeff Keighley and Hazel Pearce

Presenter:
Jeff Keighley
Deputy Coordinator / Pregnancy Lead For Smoking, Ipswich Hospital Trust, West Suffolk Hospital Trust, UK

Abstract
HERS provides a model for engagement with individuals, who smoke during pregnancy, particularly in communities which do not currently access such support. Those engaged with the Health Enhancement Reward Scheme (HERS) Education programme will be encouraged to change their health behaviour in relation to factors contributing to obesity and child weight management (by being encouraged to breastfeed) promotion of healthy eating and physical activity that all impact on cardio vascular disease.

The project impacts on inequalities in the following ways:

• Enables social contact with other women in a similar situation though attendance at monthly education sessions, building confidence and self esteem, peer and buddy support.
• Raises awareness about the benefits of not smoking for themselves and their families.
• Receives additional Health Education that includes e.g. Healthy Eating. preparing low budget high quality meals, child development, promotes the benefits of physical activity, money management etc.
• Social Marketing and Service User Involvement has strongly influenced the shape and development of the HERS pilot. This has lead to the creation of an innovative ‘Mewards’ scheme, that uses incentives as a tool to aid cessation.

Source of funding: NHS funded, Havebury Housing, local authority funding.

Declaration of interest: none

About the presenter
Jeff Keighley is Specialist lead for pregnancy running training to health care professionals, particularly those working in maternity services.