New service to help pregnant women in Cornwall quit smoking
Our smoking in pregnancy rate currently stands at 15%
A new service has launched to help pregnant women in Cornwall quit smoking.
In the UK around 2200 babies are born too early and 500 babies are stillborn with a third of these being over 37 weeks in gestation.
The NHS recently set out a national ambition to halve this rate as set out in the “Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle” with an ambition reducing the smoking in pregnancy rate to 6%.
In Cornwall our rate is currently around 15%, far too high.
“We know that people smoke for a number of reasons and simply quitting is tough. We understand that individualised support is required to really help; we want to do this. We are therefore very proud to announce our commitment to our Cornish community who are pregnant, a partner or are a family member who would like to quit smoking.”
Zoe Nelson, Lead Midwife for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Maternity and Neonatal System
EHPIC, is a new multi-agency group that brings together everyone who can help and we are committed to reducing the number of those who smoke in or around pregnancy, a child’s early years and beyond to ensure a healthier and safer nation.
EHPIC which stands for “Empowering Healthy Pregnancy In Cornwall” has now launched.
“Together EHPIC will empower women and pregnant people to have a healthy pregnancy by promoting healthier choices with education and individualised support through a multi-agency approach”
EHPIC Mission Statement March 2021
Pregnant women and families who would like further information about support for quitting smoking should speak to their midwife or the Healthy Pregnancy Team on 01209 615600 or healthy.pregnancy@cornwall.gov.uk or visit www.healthycornwall.org.uk