The Roy Castle Fag Ends Community Stop Smoking Service - a proven track record
The Roy Castle Fag Ends Community Stop Smoking Service (RCFE) is commissioned by Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) to provide the stop smoking service across Liverpool and by Knowsley PCT to provide the stop smoking service for Knowsley
The service is not theoretically driven but there are several principles governing RCFE, which maintain the client-led, person-centred philosophy.
Introducing some of the RCFE principles into other stopsmoking services may help to increase the overall smoking-cessation rate in England.
Unique aspects are that the service is provided by trained lay advisors with a nonmedical background and there is no waiting list — clients can self-refer by calling a helpline or walking into a meeting. At RCFE, clients control their own quit attempt as well as self-regulating attendance at meetings and discharge from the service. Relapsed clients are also welcomed back without fear of criticism or the need for an appointment.
Possible reasons for the success of RCFE include the client-led methodology, the community approach that removes doctor–patient barriers that may exist, and the nature of the group meetings, which allows interaction between clients who are at different stages of the quit process.