Corby smoking rates top national table again with Wellingborough not far behind

Adults in Corby smoke more than anywhere else in England according to new data released by Public Health England (PHE) with more than a quarter of over 18's regular smokers.

The Annual Population Survey data snapshot from 2019 has revealed that the smoking rates in the town are the worst in the country, according to the latest Local Tobacco Control Profile report.

Corby topped the survey smoking poll with 27.5 per cent of adults classed as smokers, however, the percentage of smokers has gone down from 32.3 per cent in 2015 - when Corby topped a previous table.

Not far behind Corby was nearby Wellingborough, with 21 per cent of smokers, placing it eleventh in the country overall.

County town Northampton had 18.8 per cent of smokers - a ranking of 29th - , East Northants 53rd with 17.2 per cent and Daventry 137th with 14 per cent.

Way down the list and best performing North Northamptonshire district was Kettering with only 9.1 per cent of the borough smoking giving it a 281st position.

South Northamptonshire was the least likely area to find a smoker with only 6.7 per cent of adults indulging - 306th in the country out of 315.

The lowest prevalence of smoking in England was recorded in Hart, Hampshire with only 3.4 per cent of smokers in the towns and villages around Fleet.

In March, there was an attempt to buck the trend when Northamptonshire public health officials handed out free e-cigarettes to encourage smokers to bin the baccy.

Dan Pickard, Corby resident and smoker for 40 years of 40 cigarettes a day, quit the habit 13 months ago after a weekend party where he smoked 100 in 24 hours.

He said: "I switched from 40-a-day to vaping. I still have the occasional cigar so I don't consider myself a non-smoker. I don't feel any different. I never had a cough or anything like that.

"A lot of it is habit. As soon as I got outside, I shoved a cigarette in my mouth. It's scary the age of some people I see smoking - to see children as young as ten-years-old sparking up- it's absolutely horrific. Smoking is not big and it's not clever. I would never encourage anyone to smoke. I'm chuffed with myself that I gave up."

Overall, the East Midlands is the third highest smoking prevalence rate in England, with 14.8 per cent − compared to the national average of 13.9 per cent.

Corby, with 27.5 per cent of the population smoking, is 13.6 per cent higher than the England average. The town also has high rates of mums-to-be still smoking while pregnant with more than one fifth smokers. Elsewhere in the north of Northamptonshire only 12.9 per cent of expectant mums smoked.

Rates in Corby of smoking-related conditions including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were also the highest in the country.

The progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe led to 1,028 admissions to hospital during 2018-19 with Kettering the next highest having 648 admissions, Wellingborough 631, Northampton 624 and East Northants 512.

Jean Addison, deputy leader of Corby Council, said: "As a retired respiratory nurse it's very disappointing news with all the hard work that has gone into reducing the rates over the years.

"I can't believe that people continue smoking while they are pregnant and with COPD we're still suffering from the aftermath of the steel works. There is an older age group who have smoked all their lives."

Public Health Northamptonshire offers a dedicated stop smoking service, with 12 weeks of free behavioural support, tips and advice on how to stop smoking, telephone appointments and a free course of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) as well as a free e-cigarette starter kit and 12 week supply of e-liquid.

Jim Telfer, manager of The White Hart in Corby Old Village, has smoked all of his adult life and currently smokes 20 a day.

He said: "I grew up in a smoking culture when everybody smoked. I have tried to cut down and when the smoking ban came in I did smoke a bit less.

"It's the expense that's the worst thing at nearly £11 for a packet of 20.”

Richard Holley, area manager of the local stop smoking service at Northamptonshire County Council, said: “The smoking rate in Corby is certainly concerning, but there are a host of reasons which may explain why prevalence remains high.

"Approximately one in four routine and manual workers smoke nationally, but in Corby this figure is closer to one in three. In light of this inequality, the stop smoking service has started providing targeted workplace interventions for businesses with a large routine and manual work force, and any eligible Corby businesses are welcome to take part.

“Historically the stop smoking service has seen an encouraging level of engagement from Corby residents, but success rates have tended to be slightly higher in other areas. Thankfully this trend seems to be changing, in the first quarter of this year 70 per cent of Corby residents that set a quit date with our service successfully quit smoking, compared to 40 per cent in quarter one of 2019 to 2020.

“Thankfully, our county has its own specialist service to help smokers quit for good. The Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service offers free support to smokers wanting to make a quit attempt, this includes 12 weeks of behavioural support, telephone appointments, and a course of nicotine replacement products - including nicotine patches and vaping starter kits) - sent direct to your door at absolutely no cost.

"You are four times more likely to successfully stop smoking with the help of professional support, so I would encourage anybody wanting to quit to email us at [email protected] or call 0300 126 5700.”

Message from the editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.