New statistics on smoking in England published by NHS Digital show that deaths attributed to smoking declined last year.
The Statistics on smoking, England 2020 report includes the latest data on smoking-related ill-health, smoking-related deaths, smoking cessation-related prescription items and the expenditure and affordability of tobacco.
There were an estimated 506,100 hospital admissions attributed to smoking in 2019-2020. This is similar to 2018-2019 where there were 504,200 admissions and an increase of 10 per cent from the 461,700 admissions in 2009-2010.
However, the proportion of all hospital admissions attributable to smoking decreased in this time period from 5 per cent in 2009-2010 to 4 per cent in 2019-2020. This is because the overall number of hospital admissions has increased.
For males, admissions attributed to smoking in 2019/2020 accounted for 5 per cent of all hospital admissions and for 3 per cent of all admissions for females.
There were an estimated 74,600 deaths attributable to smoking in 2019, a decrease of 3 per cent from 2018 and a 9 per cent decrease from 2009. For males, this accounted for 19 per cent of all deaths, and 12 per cent of all deaths for females.
The number of items dispensed as an aid to stop smoking in England was 710,000 in 2019-2020, compared with 2.48 million 10 years ago and a peak of 2.56 million in 2010-2011.
NHS Bradford City CCG had the highest rate of items dispensed in 2019-2020 at 45 per 1000 population, up from 40 per 1000 population in 2018-2019. NHS Wyre Forest, NHS South Worcestershire, NHS Stafford and Surrounds, NHS Rotherham and NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove all recorded rates of less than one item per 1000 population.
The proportion of total household expenditure on tobacco has also decreased over time, from 2.8 per cent in 1985 to 1.4 per cent in 2019. Tobacco is now 27 per cent less affordable than it was in 2009.
