Bed occupancy figures confirm smoking as burning health concern

Figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) showed that, every day, 1,260 adults aged 35 and over are admitted to hospital because of smoking.

Between 2010 and 2011 there were 460,000 hospital admissions in England attributable to smoking.

Of these, 126,200 had a respiratory disease and 160,300 had a smoking-related cancer such as lung cancer, and a further 135,400 were diagnosed with circulatory disease, HSCIC estimates.

The data also shows that more people tried to kick the habit. Between 2011 and 2012, 816,000 people set a quit date with the help of NHS Stop Smoking Services, a 4 per cent rise on the previous year.

HSCIC chief executive Tim Straughan said: “These figures present in stark terms the impact smoking has on people’s individual health and NHS services.

“Together, today’s two reports give an insight into the effects of this habit in England; from those seeking help to give up and successfully quitting through NHS Stop Smoking Services to those needing a hospital stay for a condition associated with smoking.”

Action on Smoking and Health research manager Amanda Sandford said: “Taken together the statistics on hospital admissions due to smoking and those seeking help to quit show just how much smokers want to quit, yet how hard it is to do so.

“Smoking is still by far the biggest single cause of preventable illness and premature death.

“Helping adults to quit should remain a priority of the NHS but we also need to have measures in place such as a ban on the promotional features on cigarette packs if we are to stop the next generation from being hooked on this deadly addiction.”

Maureen Talbot, a senior cardiac nurse with the British Heart Foundation, said: “These depressing statistics show the price that the nation’s health continues to pay for its nicotine addiction.

“Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and these numbers reinforce the need to prevent the next generation of would-be smokers being recruited. By introducing plain tobacco packaging and getting rid of glitzy design and branding, we can reduce the appeal of this deadly product to young people.”