COVID-19 recommendation 13th January 2021

COVID-19: Face-to-face consultations and CO monitoring

UPDATE: 13th January 2021

The latest guidance on face-to-face stop smoking consultations issued in November by the NCSCT on behalf of PHE was very clear that there is no national mandate to resume face-to-face consultations:
 
"Any decision by service providers to resume face-to-face provision should be considered alongside local coronavirus restrictions, as well as operational practicalities within the stop smoking service"
 
"Remote behavioural support remains a practical option for continuity of stop smoking provision, where services consider that this remains the best local option."
 
The guidance remains current.
 
Given the high rates of COVID transmission, national coronavirus restrictions and the availability of remote smoking cessation support, serious consideration should be given to pausing all local face-to-face stop smoking consultations at this time, in favour of delivering support remotely.