St Helens resident shares powerful journey to becoming smoke free

Article date: 11 March 2026

Daniel Newcombe, 63, from Sutton Manor, grew up in a household of smokers and had never tried to quit before. But after being diagnosed with COPD - a lung condition that causes breathing difficulties - and prostate cancer, for which he is now in remission, he says he found 'a good enough reason' to finally stop.

Last summer, Daniel spent two days in hospital after he stopped breathing and was taken into resuscitation due to his COPD. Upon discharge, he was automatically referred to the St Helens Wellbeing Service through its hospital‑to‑community care pathway. He began attending a clinic at the St Helens South Community Hub on Chester Lane every Tuesday, where he received a nicotine replacement spray and regular one‑to‑one support.

Daniel, who is now more than eight-months smoke-free, said:

"I think you should try and pack smoking in, but not because of the money savings - your health is more important. You have to want to pack in smoking. I wouldn't have given up other than coming here. I still get phone calls seeing how I'm doing. I can beat cancer, so I can beat this."

Smoking three packs a day, at around £16 a packet, meant Daniel was spending more than £17,000 a year on cigarettes. While money wasn't his reason for quitting, for many people the financial benefits are immediate - alongside the improvements to health.

Within just eight hours of quitting, the risk of heart attack begins to fall as oxygen starts returning to normal levels in the blood. The Wellbeing Service uses carbon monoxide monitoring to show clients these changes in real time. Carbon monoxide from smoking displaces oxygen in the bloodstream, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to conditions like COPD.

Daniel added:

"There were days where I'd wake up and wait for the shop to open to go and buy cigarettes. Coming here made all the difference."

The St Helens Wellbeing Service - delivered by the City Health Care Partnership (CHCP) - offers a 12‑week stop smoking programme, with the option for up to 26 weeks of ongoing support. Advisors work with clients to understand what motivates them most - whether it's health, wealth or family - as breaking nicotine addiction often requires both medical support and emotional resilience.

Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:
"Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of poor health, and helping people to quit is one of the most effective ways to improve wellbeing across our borough. Daniel's story shows just how life‑changing stopping smoking can be, especially when the right local support is in place to guide people through the process.

"Daniel has shown incredible willpower and commitment. His journey proves it's never too late to benefit from quitting, and that tailored support can help anyone to stop - no matter how long they have smoked for."

To find out more about stop smoking support in St Helens, visit www.sthelenswellbeing.org.uk or call 01744 371111.