South Yorkshire has seen a decrease in smokers according to the latest adult smoking data published by the Office for National Statistics.
The data shows a decline in smoking of 3.2% from 16.7% in 2021 to 13.5% in 2022 taking the region’s smokers to around 150,000.
One of the contributing initiatives to this decrease is NHS South Yorkshire’s QUIT service in which offers support to smokers when they are admitted to hospital.
Developed in partnership with and funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, QUIT will make sure that treatment for tobacco addiction is built into the routine care offered to every patient who smokes attending any South Yorkshire hospital.
Patients are offered free nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) and have access to specialist support while in hospital, which will continue through community-based stop smoking services when they are discharged. NRT treatment and specialist support are also offered to mental health trust inpatients and to the parents of child patients.
Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer at NHS South Yorkshire said:
“This decline in smoking is a significant achievement for South Yorkshire. We have an ambition to reduce smoking to 5% by 2030 and this decrease is a step towards achieving this. Around 150,000 people smoke in our region and if they continue more than half will die prematurely from smoking-related illness, losing on average 10 years of life.
“Smoking is an addiction that often starts early in our lives, and we know that many smokers wish they could stop. Stopping smoking is the single most important thing people can do to improve their health and wellbeing, as well as prevent illness. The QUIT programme provides patients in hospital with an opportunity to access support and treatment, which can speed up their recovery and discharge home.
“Since the QUIT service began it has supported over 1,500 patients to quit smoking which will has not only improved people’s health, saved lives but should also help decrease demand on our NHS in the future.”
NHS South Yorkshire is also encouraging people to feedback in the UK Government’s consultation: Creating a smokefree generation and reducing youth vaping.
The government is set to introduce a historic new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England, in a bid to create the first ‘smokefree generation’.
Proposed new legislation will make it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products – effectively raising the smoking age by a year each year until it applies to the whole population. This has the potential to phase out smoking in young people almost completely as early as 2040.
People of all ages are being invited to take part in the consultation. You can feedback here Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The consultation closes on 6 December 2023.