Pregnant smokers down for third consecutive year (From Essex County Standard)
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Pregnant smokers down for third consecutive year
2:44pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in News
Pregnant smokers down for third consecutive year
FRESH figures show stop smoking services in north Essex have helped cut the number of women puffing while pregnant for the third year in a row.
During 2011/12, Colchester and Tendring NHS Stop Smoking Service helped 205 pregnant women kick the habit, which is the highest since the service began in 2003.
It is also the highest figure in the east of England.
But the figures still show 17 per cent of pregnant mums are smoking during pregnancy.
Sarah Leach, a specialist advisor for Anglian Community Enterprise, which runs the service, said: “We have worked very hard with the public health team at NHS North Essex and the midwifery services at Colchester Hospital.
“We are happy to see this co-ordinated approach can lead to a reduction in pregnancies affected by tobacco smoke.”
Boris says...
12:08pm Wed 25 Jul 12
17 per cent of mothers still damaging their babies is still shocking. But what does that mean in actual numbers?
In other words, is the stop smoking service doing a good job? We are not told.