NHS England has reported the biggest annual fall in smoking during pregnancy since records began, with around 6,000 fewer pregnant women smoking in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23.
And over 90% of inpatient and maternity services now deliver smoking cessation services for patients, NHSE added.
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According to the latest NHSE statistics, some 7.4% of women were known to be smokers at time of delivery in 2023-24, down from 8.8% in 2022/23.
But this rate was still higher than the current national ambition of 6% or less.
This target was met in 28 out of 106 sub-integrated care boards (sub-ICBs) that submitted data to the NHSE collation.
In Buckinghamshire, just 4.7% of women reported smoking at time of giving birth.
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NHSE highlighted the use of tobacco dependency advisors, immediately available from the beginning of pregnancy, in Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
‘This is helping to improve engagement and uptake of smoking cessation services for those communities most likely to smoke,’ NHSE said.
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Kate Brintworth, NHSE chief midwifery officer, said: ‘It is extremely encouraging to see that the number of pregnant women smoking has reached the lowest level ever, in part thanks to our brilliant teams of midwives and the specialist support we provide to expectant mums through our maternity services.’
