Levels of smoking in Doncaster is a '˜major health problem'

A report presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board at Doncaster Council revealed 54,000 adults over the age of 18 smoke – the equivalent of 22.7 per cent of the town’s population.

It was also found there is an increasing trend in people aged 35 and over being admitted to hospital for smoking-related causes. Yearly numbers are rising.

The report said: “Smoking is a major public health problem in Doncaster.

“The rate of people dying from smoking-related conditions in Doncaster is worse than that seen in England as a whole.

“Doncaster is one of the worst areas in England in relation to hospital admissions that can be attributed to smoking.

“There are 172,000 people aged 35 and over admitted to hospital in Doncaster from smoking-related causes each year and the trend is increasing.

“Doncaster is also significantly worse than the national average figure for women smoking.”

Health chiefs said smoking in Doncaster had decreased by five per cent from 2010 to 2013, but the figure rose the following year. The number of women smoking in the town did fall from the previous year but was still nearly double compared to the average across England.

Victor Joseph, consultant in public health, and Sarah Smith, public health registrar at Doncaster Council, presented the annual health protection report to the board.

Both said much more was needed to be done to tackle smoking in Doncaster.

Ms Smith said: “We are aware of smoking being one of the biggest public health challenges we face.

“We have been doing a lot of work. Even though we are not as good as the England average, some figures are going in the right direction.”

Mr Joseph said: “We still aim for every child to be born today to live in a smoke-free environment and we need to continue to help people to give up smoking.”

The report added that Doncaster Council has commissioned various social marketing campaigns and reviewed its approach to services that aim to stop people smoking.

Stop smoking campaigns in the borough have been rolled out with an extra focus on young people and pregnant women.