Smoking Profile
Proposed changes: Fingertips smoking profile
In 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), including the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and NHS England (NHSE) sought views on possible changes to their health and social care statistical products. A response to this consultation was published in November 2024.
OHID would now like to ask users for their views on specific changes it plans to make based on the responses it received to this consultation, these are outlined in the changes proposal document. If you have any comments about these changes, please email pha-ohid@dhsc.gov.uk by 28 March 2025.
Introduction
The smoking profiles provides information of the extent of:
- tobacco use
- tobacco related harm
- measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level
The aim of these profiles is to assess the effect of tobacco use on local populations. Local government and health services can use this information to inform commissioning and planning decisions to tackle tobacco use and improve the health of local communities.
The tool allows professionals to compare your local authority against other local authorities in the region and benchmark your local authority against the England or regional average.
What’s new in the tool for February 2025?
The profile has changed its name from the Local Tobacco Control Profiles (LTCP) to the Smoking Profile. LTCP was a legacy name and this change brings the profile into line with other Fingertips profiles and will improve clarity for users.
February 2025 includes the following new indicators, available at England level and regional level where available: regular e-cigarette users (15 year olds); have ever used e-cigarettes (15 year olds). New data has been added for: smoking prevalence, regular smokers (15 year olds); smoking prevalence, occasional smokers (15 year olds).
October 2024 includes new data for: smoking prevalence in adults (aged 18 and over) – current smokers (APS); smoking prevalence in adults (aged 18 and over) – ex-smokers (APS); smoking prevalence in adults (aged 18 and over) – never smokers (APS); smoking prevalence among adults aged 18 to 64 in routine and manual occupations (APS); odds of smoking among adults aged 18 to 64 with a routine and manual occupation (APS); emergency hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aged 35 and over); mortality from oral cancer.
Impact of updated mid-year population estimates on Fingertips indicators.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released 2021 mid-year population estimates, based on the results of the 2021 Census. They are not comparable with estimates for previous years. Rebased estimates for 2012 to 2020 will be published in due course. Indicators which use mid-year population estimates as their denominators are affected by this change. If an indicator has been updated to 2021, the non-comparable historical data are not available through Fingertips or in the API but are made available in csv format through a link in the indicator metadata. Comparable back series data will be added once the rebased populations are available.