The Department of Health has launched a national TV and radio advertising campaign in conjunction with a new and improved NHS Quit Kit available from thousands of pharmacies across England to encourage smokers to stop smoking.

The NHS Quit Kit, developed by experts, smokers and ex-smokers, contains practical tools and advice and includes a new text support programme to give smokers extra help in those tough first weeks. Other items include:

• a health/wealth wheel, which helps quitters calculate how much they are saving and the improvements they will see to their health

• tips on how to improve and boost willpower, including a quitting planner which helps quitters identify smoking triggers and offers tips on managing cravings

• MP3 downloads that are scientifically proven to reduce cravings

• a wall chart to map progress

• a ‘tangle’ toy to help keep hands busy

• information on other free quitting help such as local Stop Smoking Services

The campaign will run until 31 March 2012 and NHS Quit kits will be available from more than 7,000 pharmacies across England.