The number of women smoking in pregnancy in Greater Manchester has fallen for the seventh year in a row and is now at a record low, NHS figures show.
According to the latest figures from NHS England, just 5.9% of women in Greater Manchester smoked at the time of delivery between April 2024 and March 2025.
This marks a drop from 7.7% the previous year and more than halves the region’s rate since 2017-18, when 12.6% of pregnant women smoked.
Greater Manchester has now met and exceeded the national target set by NHS England of reducing smoking in pregnancy to 6% or lower and has outperformed the England-wide average of 6.1%.
Health leaders say the progress is thanks to the success of the Smokefree Pregnancy programme, part of Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership’s wider tobacco control strategy.
Launched in 2018, the pioneering programme is delivered in collaboration between NHS Greater Manchester, NHS Foundation Trusts and local authorities. It aims to tackle health inequalities, improve health and wellbeing, and ultimately save babies’ lives.
Over 10,000 pregnant women and their partners have received help through the programme.
The initiative offers pregnant women and their partners tailored support to quit smoking, including free nicotine replacement therapy, carbon monoxide screening, and an incentive scheme in the form of a gift card.
The gift cards are topped up as individuals reach important smoking cessation milestones, verified through low CO readings. Pregnant women who remain smokefree can earn up to £400 in vouchers, with early enrolment unlocking even greater rewards.
The latest figures mean almost 1,000 more babies were born smokefree in the region over the past year alone. Since the start of the programme, almost 7,000 babies have been born smokefree and the initiative has saved more than £11 million annually by reducing hospital admissions and using resources more effectively.
Jane Coyne, assistant director of population health for NHS Greater Manchester, said: ‘These figures reflect the hard work of everyone involved in the Smokefree Pregnancy Programme and Greater Manchester’s commitment to tackling health inequalities by making smoking history.
‘We are very proud to play an important role in such a pioneering programme. Through dedicated support in maternity services, innovative incentive schemes, and strong public health partnerships – our work has helped to improve outcomes locally and informed national approaches.’
The programme set the blueprint for a new national initiative aimed at reducing smoking during pregnancy. Since its launch in December 2024, the national scheme has been adopted in 75% of maternity units in England, with over 3,000 women participating.
