Smoking

Smoking is the largest single cause of death and ill health in UK today. Smokers have increased risk of heart disease, disease of blood vessels, stroke, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease, lung cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of many other sites and many other diseases. The children of smokers are more likely to be born underweight, to suffer cot deaths and to experience upper and lower respiratory tract illness. Other also suffer these health problems as a result of breathing in the smoke produced by smokers.

For these reasons the NHS and the government are making vigorous efforts to discourage people from starting smoking and to help smokers quit. Smoking is very addictive and people find it difficult to give up.

Smoking used to be very common (In the 1930s nearly 80% of males smoked) but since then has been steadily decreasing. The Public Service Agreement (PSA) has set the aim of reducing the prevalence of smoking to 20% by 2011.

Images from the NHS Photo Library

Data

  • Community Health Profiles: Smoking
    Health Profiles provide a snapshot of health for each local council in England using key health indicators, which enables comparison locally, regionally and over time.
    There are two indicators relating to smoking; "Smoking in pregnancy" and "Adults who smoke".
  • Equity Report for Smoking in Pregnancy for the West Midlands: 2008-2009
    This is an extension of the overall Equity reports for Stop Smoking Services in the West Midlands focusing on those helped to stop smoking during pregnancy. Its aim is both to look at the overall performance of the service and to explore the distribution of service throughout the population in order that this information can be used to improve the effectiveness of services in reducing health inequalities and in particular reduce smoking among the groups in the community where smoking is most widespread.
  • Integrated Household Survey (IHS)
    A report summarising the results for smoking prevalence in the West Midlands prepared by WMPHO is available together with a version of the full data file focusing on the West Midlands. The prevalence estimates for the whole country by region and local authority are available from LHO.
  • Local Profiles: Smoking
    Health statistics for the West Midlands are available from our Local Profiles pages.These include hospital admission, hospital emergency admissions, deaths and disease prevalence.
  • Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England
    These profiles provide a snapshot of the extent of tobacco use, tobacco related harm, and measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level. These profiles have been designed to help local government and health services to assess the effect of tobacco use on their local populations. They will inform commissioning and planning decisions to tackle tobacco use and improve the health of local communities.
  • National Smoking in Pregnancy Data - 2009/10
    Excel spreadsheet giving data for all the stop smoking services across England. Charts have been created to allow comparison of West Midland’s stop smoking services with all services across England. The overall findings are favourable for the West Midlands with average scores in most indicators better than the England average. NOTE – the quintiles used in the charts do not relate to deprivation quintiles but represent one fifth of the Primary Care Trusts across England with valid data.
  • Quarterly Health Improvement Reports
    The Quarterly Health Improvement Reports provide a regular, comprehensive and easy to understand overview of the performance of PCTs in improving the health of its population.
    The report contains information on a range of indicators, the most relevant to smoking being “Smoking During Pregnancy (at booking)”, “Smoking at time of Delivery (SATOD)” and “Smoking Cessation Service Activity”.
  • Smoking in Pregnancy National Comparison - All Data 2009/10 – Pre-Tariff Only

    PowerPoint presentation of comparisons of West Midland’s stop smoking services with all services across England. The overall findings are favourable for the West Midlands with average scores in most indicators better than the England average. NOTE – the quintiles used in the charts do not relate to deprivation quintiles but represent one fifth of the Primary Care Trusts across England with valid data.
    Please see National Smoking in Pregnancy Data - 2009/10 for the data behind the graphs included in this presentation.

  • West Midlands Smoking Equity Reports: 2008-2009
    This is the sixth in a series of reports examining the activities of the Stop Smoking Services. Its aim is both to look at the overall performance of the service and to explore the distribution of service throughout the population in order that this information can be used to improve the effectiveness of services in reducing health inequalities and in particular reduce smoking among the groups in the community where smoking is most widespread.
    Items: 17
Publication and policy documents from DH and elsewhere

  • Beyond Smoking Kills: Protecting Children, Reducing Inequalities: Executive Summary
    A new report published by Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) launched 7th October 2008 and endorsed by WMPHO calls on the Government to introduce tough new measures to protect children and reduce inequalities.
  • Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier
    This White Paper sets out the key principles for supporting the public to make healthier and more informed choices in regards to their health. The Government will provide information and practical support to get people motivated and improve emotional wellbeing and access to services so that healthy choices are easier to make.
  • Smoking and Pregnancy: An Open Learning Pack for Midwives
    This set of open learning materials has been written to help midwives gain knowledge about smoking and pregnancy and develop the skills required to help women who want to give up smoking. The pack is designed so that the learner can be in control of study, adapting her learning to meet her own needs and working at her own pace. The materials are not intended to replace the need for practical workshops, but rather to compliment this method of learning.
    Items: 20
  • Smoking Kills: A White Paper on Tobacco
    Smoking kills. That has been known for years. That is why a lot of adults have given up smoking. But the number of adults who smoke has stopped falling. Worse still the number of children who smoke is going up, with more girls than boys taking up this deadly habit.
Links to important organisation(s)