A decade of progress in reducing smoking during pregnancy in England is now at risk due to NHS budget cuts, according to health experts.
A new article published in the British Medical Journal warns that fewer pregnant women may receive the support they need to quit smoking if cuts to NHS tobacco treatment services continue.
The article, co-authored by Professor Caitlin Notley from the University of East Anglia (UEA), shows that the number of pregnant women who smoke has dropped nearly in half over the past ten years. In 2014/15, about 11.7% of pregnant women smoked. As of late 2024, that number has dropped to just 5.9%.
“This is a huge public health success,” said Prof. Notley. “Most of the progress came in the last five years thanks to dedicated stop-smoking advisers in maternity care. But all of this is now under threat.”
While the overall numbers are encouraging, there are still wide differences between regions. Women in lower-income areas are more likely to smoke during pregnancy, and often have fewer resources to help them quit.
“That’s why we need targeted support,” Prof. Notley added. “Some women face much bigger challenges when trying to stop smoking. Cutting services now would hurt those who need help the most.”
The warning comes from the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, a coalition that includes top health organizations like the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The group says funding cuts have already led to reduced services in some hospitals and mental health units.
Experts say stop-smoking services are not just helpful—they save lives. Smoking during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for babies, including low birth weight, premature birth, and even stillbirth.
Professor Linda Bauld, another author of the study and director of the SPECTRUM Research Consortium, said the evidence is strong: “Stop-smoking support for pregnant women has saved countless babies’ lives. Without continued funding, we risk seeing those numbers go up again.”
Dr. Clea Harmer, chief executive of the baby loss charity Sands, agrees. “If the government wants to achieve a smokefree generation, now is the time to invest more, not less,” she said.
John Waldron of Action on Smoking and Health, who also co-wrote the article, pointed to recent political promises. “Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised to make sure every hospital offers stop-smoking support. That promise must be kept if we want to protect future generations.”
The researchers are urging the government to protect and expand funding for tobacco treatment services in the NHS. They say failing to do so could undo years of work and lead to serious health risks for both mothers and babies.
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