Specialist health team’s success helping smokers quit during pregnancies

WORK to cut down on smoking in pregnancy has seen one North East hospital trust almost halve it in just four years.

- SAM VOLPE

And one Tyneside woman told of how vital NHS staff had been in helping her ditch a “heavy” smoking habit in time to welcome her soon-to-be-born baby.

Each year, according to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust figures, there are 153 fewer pregnant women a year smoking at the time of giving birth across Northumberland and North Tyneside. The rate of smoking in pregnancy has fallen from 8.9% in 2020/2021 to 4.7% in 2024/2025.

Lillie, 19, from North Tyneside is pregnant and has been meeting with her “best start in life” adviser Emily for several months now as she quits smoking.

She said: “The appointments also helped me keep on track with quitting smoking since I was such a heavy user.

“Emily made me feel so grateful for having someone there for me while pregnant and stopping smoking.