Smoking cause of over 10 per cent of deaths in Wales, new report shows

Smoking is responsible for more than one in ten deaths of people aged over 35 in Wales, according to a new report from Public Health Wales.

New analysis has found that an average of 3,845 deaths in Wales in 2022 were due to smoking in Wales every year between 2020 and 2022

The findings highlight the significant health impact of smoking across the country and the stark inequalities between the most and least deprived communities.

The rate of deaths attributable to smoking is three times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.

In addition to being the leading cause of preventable illness and death, the analysis also showed that, on average, more than 17,000 hospital admissions each year in Wales were attributable to smoking, adding significant pressure to the healthcare system.

Rates of smoking-related hospital admissions were also twice as high for residents of the most deprived communities compared to those in the least deprived.

Chris Emmerson, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Wales, said: “These statistics are a stark reminder of the devastating impact that smoking continues to have on the health of the Welsh population, particularly in our most deprived communities.

“Despite the real progress we have made in reducing the numbers taking up smoking and supporting smokers to quit, it’s clear that we need to make every effort to tackle smoking if we are to address these huge health and financial costs for the people of Wales.”

Public Health Wales has welcomes the announcement in the King’s Speech that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, first introduced by the previous UK government, will return to Parliament in the current term.

Health officials have welcomed the provisions of the previous Bill, including banning the sale of tobacco to everyone born after 1 January 2009 as an important step towards reducing the harms of smoking to the Welsh population.

“This new analysis highlights the benefits that ambitious policies to prevent young people from starting to smoke could deliver,” Mr Emmerson added.

“Help Me Quit, our national NHS smoking cessation service, helped over 16,000 people last year and is ready to provide free, friendly and effective support to every single smoker who is ready to quit.”

All smokers in Wales can receive free, non-judgemental support to quit, including free stop-smoking medication. Visit https://www.helpmequit.wales/ or call 0800 085 2219.