Mobile phone text messages are about to take on a whole new level by helping support people who are quitting smoking.

People trying to quit smoking in the Maldon and south Chelmsford area are to be among the first in the UK to have the assistance of an innovative texting support service.

The smoking cessation team, at Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust (PCT), is the first in Essex and one of the first in the country to pilot a scheme which involves sending text messages to people who have committed to quit the habit with the help of the PCT's smoking cessation service.

The PCT's Smoking Cessation co-ordinator, Mary Marsh said: "We have linked up with a company called Healthcare Communications to provide reminders and messages of support using mobile phone texting messages.

"It means we can keep in touch on a regular basis with people who are trying to quit smoking. We can remind them of appointments and generally keep in touch with encouraging messages of support during this stressful period."

Published Tuesday, January 25, 2005

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