'Devastating' smoking costs Wiltshire and Swindon Councils over £14 million in social care annually
In 2021, over 1,000 individuals have needed help for smoking at home or in a residential setting across Swindon and Wiltshire
Last updated 14th Jul 2021
Poor health caused by smoking is placing more pressure on social care services across our region.
That is according to new data, funded by the public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
How severe are the numbers?
657 people in Wiltshire are estimated to be receiving care support at home, because they cannot look after themselves due to smoking related illnesses.
This alone costs Wiltshire Council around £4.8 million every year. The local authority spends another £4.3 million on residential social care, to tackle issues caused by cigarettes.
In Swindon, ASH says almost 350 residents are receiving home-based care for smoking. This costs the Borough Council more than £2.5 million annually.
It also has to fund over £2.3 million for residential social care, because of the same problem.
What is the picture nationwide?
Smoking is the leading cause of premature death in England, killing 74,600 people in 2019 alone.
However, cigarettes are also a major factor behind preventable illnesses.
For every person killed by smoking, at least another 30 are estimated to be living with serious smoking-related diseases or disabilities.
ASH found that, on average, smokers in England need care when they are 63 years-old. That is a decade earlier than the corresponding figure for non-smokers.
Smoking means 1.5 million extra people in England are estimated to need help with everyday tasks - including dressing, walking across rooms and using the toilet.
However, the sums spent by Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council on smoking care do not cover the issue entirely.
8,400 individuals across Wiltshire are estimated to be receiving care from unpaid carers such as friends and family, while a further 3,400 residents have care needs not being met by anyone.
In the Swindon Borough, those figures are around 4,500 and 1,850 people respectively.
'It profoundly undermines the quality of lives'
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: "Smoking has a devastating impact on our communities far beyond the tens of thousands of lives it takes every year.
"It profoundly undermines the quality of many people's lives, often placing heavy demands on family and friends.
"Securing the Government's vision of a smokefree country by 2030 will make all the difference. It will ease pressure on the social care system and build resilience in our communities, enabling people to live longer, healthier lives.
"ASH backs calls on the government to introduce a 'polluter pays' levy on tobacco manufacturers to pay for the support needed to end smoking in this country".