Best-ever figures recorded as Trust helps more pregnant mums to quit smoking

NHS Coventry and Warwickshire is leading the way in reducing smoking in pregnancy, new NHS Digital figures show.

In July, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust achieved its lowest ever smoking at time of delivery (SATOD) rate of 4.95 per cent, supported by strong collaboration with the Coventry and Warwickshire Stop Smoking in Pregnancy teams.

This is well under the national target of six per cent set in the 2017 Tobacco Control Plan for England.

NHS Coventry and Warwickshire is one of four Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the Midlands to have achieved the national target.

UHCW Public Health Midwife Charlotte Hands said: “It’s wonderful to see all the hard work paying off and numbers falling.

“We aim to see every smoker face-to-face to offer support and nicotine replacement therapy to help on the journey to quit as stopping smoking in pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to give your baby the best possible start in life.

“I encourage anyone considering quitting while pregnant to speak with their midwife about the free and confidential support available.”

Key initiatives included providing free vapes to women to help in their plan to stop and the Love Your Bump campaign – a joint effort across Coventry and Warwickshire combining outdoor advertising in targeted areas with digital promotion on social media.

The Coventry Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service also worked with maternity teams to introduce the national Maternity Incentive Scheme for smoking cessation.

This sees participants receive incentives (in the form of Love2shop vouchers) over the course of their pregnancy and following delivery of their child, providing they continue to attend regular stop smoking appointments and are verified as smoke-free. The Warwickshire Stop Smoking Team are set to adopt the scheme this autumn.

Charlotte is also piloting a new project to refer women to stop smoking in pregnancy services earlier – before their first booking appointment.

This approach aims to reach people sooner and further improve outcomes as smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage and sudden infant death.

Visit smokefreecw.co.uk/ssip to find out more about support to quit smoking in pregnancy.