Dedicated advisors who have helped hundreds of people stop smoking have been honoured for their efforts.
Six organisations were recognised at the County Durham NHS Stop Smoking Service’s first Star Performer Awards including Bewick Crescent Surgery in Newton Aycliffe.
The newly launched honours reward the best performing Level 2 stop smoking advisors from GP practices and pharmacies around the county.
More than 120 organisations in County Durham offer support through the stop smoking service but only the highest performing were honoured at the awards.
The awards were handed out by Cllr Jan Blakey, Vice Chairman of Durham County Council, and Cllr Audrey Laing, Chair of the Smokefree County Durham Tobacco Control Alliance, which works to reduce the number of people who smoke and, as a result, reduce the harm caused by tobacco and smoking.
Cllr Audrey Laing said: “It is a real pleasure to be able to recognise the hard work and commitment of our best performing stop smoking advisors through the Star Performer Awards.
“Advisors have very busy jobs and helping people to stop smoking is just one of their responsibilities so it is particularly commendable that our Star Performers have been so successful in helping people to give up smoking.”
