One in 10 pregnant women in north Cumbria were smokers at the time of delivery, new figures show.

NHS England figures for the former NHS North Cumbria CCG show 255 of 2,527 mothers were smokers (10.1 per cent) at time of delivery in 2022-23.

Professor Linda Bauld, co-chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, said helping more mums-to-be quit smoking spares dozens of families from losing their baby to stillbirth or miscarriage, as well as easing pressure on vital NHS services.

Nationally, 8.8 per cent of pregnant women were smoking at time of delivery in 2022-23 – a slight fall from 9.1 per cent the year before.

Cumberland Council’s executive committee approved plans earlier this year to move towards a ‘smoke-free Cumberland’ as part of a new scheme in what was described as their ‘first major public health initiative.’

A report delivered to the committee at a meeting in Carlisle on Tuesday, April 25 by Cllr Martin Harris, said that 11.1 per cent (30,000) of Cumberland residents are regular smokers - including 10 per cent of expectant mothers. 

A national review said that all areas should seek to become ‘smoke-free’ by 2030 which would require a reduction to just 5 per cent of residents being smokers which would require around 15,000 successful ‘quits’ in Cumberland and no one else taking up smoking.

A Department of Health and Social Care said it is committed to reducing smoking rates, particularly among pregnant women.

A spokesperson added the department has a new financial incentive scheme, in the form of vouchers, which will be offered to all pregnant women who smoke by the end of 2024.

"Women who receive incentives are more than twice as likely to quit as those who do not and schemes like this help women to engage with stop smoking support and remain smokefree throughout their pregnancy."

They added a smokefree treatment pathway will be introduced for pregnant women by March 2024 where women who smoke will be referred for specialist support.