NHS data has revealed that smoking-related hospital admissions in England increased by nearly 5% in 2022-23, compared to the previous year. However they are still lower than before the pandemic.
The latest statistics show that in 2022-23 there were an estimated 408,700 hospital admissions due to smoking, which is a rise from 389,800 in 2021-22 (an increase of 4.8 per cent).
The figures from NHS England's Statistics on Public Health, 2023 also cover 2020-21, when there were 314,100 admissions attributed to smoking.
Smoking-related admissions in each of the past three years were lower than in 2019-20, prior to the pandemic, when there were 446,400.
It is estimated that around one in six of all hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in 2022-23 were estimated to be related to smoking. Smoking also caused 8 per cent of all admissions for cancers and 7 per cent of admissions for cardiovascular diseases.
Other recent data has shown that a decades-long decline in smoking prevalence in England has stalled since the start of the pandemic.
Matt Fagg, NHS England’s director for prevention and long-term conditions, said: “We have seen great progress in prevention and tackling smoking-related ill health in recent years, with smoking rates falling significantly in the UK and remaining below most of our peers internationally, but it is clear there is still more to do to help save and improve more lives.
“Quitting smoking is the best way to improve health and to prevent over 50 serious smoking-related illnesses from developing, but we know it can be very difficult to overcome an addiction. That is why the NHS is rolling out dedicated support for patients in hospital to tackle their tobacco dependency, in addition to traditional Stop Smoking Services.
“Being in hospital is a significant event in someone’s life and people can be more open to making healthier choices. The tobacco dependence treatment offered by the NHS can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of the person smoking and their family.”
Public health minister Andrea Leadsom said: “No other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users, which is why we have set out plans to stop children who turn 14 this year and younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes – the most significant public health intervention in a generation.
“We are doubling funding for stop smoking services, helping 360,000 people quit, and providing local authorities with one million free vapes via our world-first ‘Swap to Stop’ programme.”
