Smoking JSNA

What needs to be done and why?

Determine the barriers individuals accessing services face in quitting particularly within the 35-44 year age group (lowest successful quitters).
Continue to implement and review strategies that have proven successful in the Borough. Through NHS Digital data, during the financial year 24/25 the most successful intervention types were combination in-person and remote multi-session and telephone support. Of the various therapies available, the most successful for in 2024/25 were nicotine vapes & NRT at the same time and combination of licensed NRTs concurrently.
New data will emerge from the smoking offer across the town, although minimal data is available at present due to the service being in its infancy. It is hopeful that continuation of the service offer will increase the percentage of successful quitters in Hartlepool.

Hartlepool consistently shows higher smoking prevalence than both regional and national averages. Despite good engagement with services (referrals and quit dates), quit success rates are low, especially self-reported quitters. CO validation rates are high, suggesting accurate reporting among those who do quit, but the overall number of quitters remains low.
Men are more likely to smoke but have lower quit success rates (26%) compared to women (32%).

Monitor and reduce health inequalities through place-based, multi-agency collaboration.
Integrated support with housing, employment and mental health services. Using accessible, plain-language interventions and community-based education. Collaboration with Education, Employment and Skills to develop NCSCT guidance/training as part of the Work Well Programme.
For young and vulnerable people targeted youth interventions ensuring inclusive access in schools, colleges and youth services. A Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire will be commissioned in order to gain deeper understanding into the needs of young people locally in regards to smoking and vaping.
Exploration into specific wards showing low engagement with Stop Smoking Services should continue when reviewing where best to place additional services.

Unemployed individuals and those with long-term illness/disability have high engagement but low success rates. Cost per quitter is high, indicating resource-intensive interventions may not be reaching the most vulnerable effectively.
Smoking prevalence among those with mental health conditions is 27.2%, higher than regional averages. This group is less likely to receive cessation support, despite being at higher risk.
Individuals with lower educational attainment are less likely to quit and more likely to suffer long-term harm.
Vulnerable children, especially those in care or with mental health challenges, are at significantly higher risk. Young adults (16–24) are at high risk due to peer pressure and social influences, girls aged 11–15 nationally show higher smoking initiation than boys, suggesting early intervention for young females is critical.

Targeted outreach and intervention in groups experiencing inequalities in prevalence and outcomes particularly in areas of high deprivation within the Borough.
Invest in community education and peer-led support, especially for those with lower educational attainment, using accessible, plain-language interventions based in the community.
Cancer Research UK Targeted Lung Health van has allowed targeted outreach, meaning an increase in referrals to the specialist smoking service, these services can also help to reduce inequalities in specific groups.

Hartlepool has higher mortality rates from lung cancer, COPD, and oral cancer than both the North East and England.
Emergency admissions for COPD are rising, indicating poor long-term management and late-stage intervention.
Smoking-related birth outcomes (premature births, low birth weight) are also worse than average.