Expanding Smoking Cessation Services

Expanding Telehealth Ontario to Include Smoking Cessation Services

September 17, 2019

The Ontario government will be making it easier for people in Dufferin-Caledon and all Ontarians to access more health supports on the Telehealth Ontario platform. Telephone-based smoking cessation services will transition to Telehealth Ontario and expand service for individuals who are looking for help to quit smoking.

 

Dufferin-Caledon patients deserve access to the services they need, when and where they need them. That’s why, Telehealth Ontario will provide easy access to registered nurses and specific supports to quit smoking, as well as combining these services with other health information which includes professional medical advice, nutrition counselling and referrals to mental health and addictions support. By transitioning telephone-based smoking cessation services from Smokers’ Helpline to Telehealth, services will improve and expand frontline support. There is no one solution for those who are looking to stop smoking, which is why it is so important that our government is providing supports that connect Ontarians to the services they need, whether they require access to registered dieticians, primary care experts or counselling.

 

Starting October 1, 2019, Telehealth Ontario will expand to include smoking cessation services. Telehealth is a free and confidential service that provides health advice and information 24 hours a days, seven days a week, available in more than 300 languages. Registered Nurses answer the call and ask questions to assess the caller’s health problem, as well as providing advice. These nurses will not diagnose illness or provide medication, but rather direct callers to the appropriate level of care. Nurses can help callers decide whether they should handle their concern themselves, visit a doctor or clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room.

 

This announcement is the latest in a series of other funding available for smoking cessation services that come at no cost for patients in Ontario. These include smoking cessation services for Ontario Drug Benefit program recipients, Nicotine Replacement Therapy and counselling through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

 

To get telephone-based smoking cessation support and health care information and advice, call Telehealth Ontario after October 1, 2019, toll free at 1-866-797-0000 or toll-free TTY at 1-866-797-0007.

 

If you have any questions about smoking cessation services, please call 1-800-265-1603 or visit my website atwww.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

 

-30-