Following publication of the tobacco control delivery plan in 2017, what assessment has the Welsh Government made of progress against its target to reduce smoking prevalence in Wales to 16 percent?
The next National Survey headlines release is due on 20th June, so we will have a better idea of progress when those are published.
Public Health Wales has produced a calculator which indicates that at current rates of investment the 16% will not be met until 2025 – and this is often quoted in the press. The Tobacco Control Strategic Board is working to identify priority actions from within the plan to better help us achieve the target.
None of the health boards have met the 5% target, but the percentage of smokers making a quit attempt using smoking cessation services has increased year on year. All the data up to Q3 of 2017-18 can be found at:
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/nhs-smoking-cessation-services/?lang=en