NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England (2025)
One of the three core shifts committed to in the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan for England (Fit for the Future) is the shift from reactive “treat-illness” care toward a prevention-focused health system.
It highlights that preventing ill health is essential to improving population outcomes, reducing health inequalities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NHS.
On tobacco dependence treatment, the plan specifically:
- Reaffirms the commitment to embed opt-out smoking cessation interventions in all routine care within hospitals.
- Supports wider tobacco control measures through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, including the introduction of a generational smoking ban, further restrictions on smoking in public places.
Webinar on delivering on the shift to prevention in the NHS
This webinar explores the changing role of ICBs in response to the government’s priority to ‘shift to prevention’. It was be chaired by Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, and the keynote speaker was Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England.
NHS Long-Term Plan (2019)
The NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) stated that by 2023/24, NHS-funded tobacco treatment services will be offered to:
- Anyone admitted overnight to hospital who smokes
- Pregnant women and members of their household
- Long-term users of specialist mental health services
Webinar: NHS LTP tobacco commitments (July 2021)
This webinar sets out the overarching objectives of the NHS LTP tobacco commitments, the roles of different partners in the system, and how it is being operationalised and supported regionally and nationally.
Resources to support implementation
NHSE/I Tobacco dependence treatment services: delivery model – Sets out expectations for tobacco dependence treatment services in acute, maternity, and mental health settings.
NHS Futures tobacco dependence treatment services resources – This platform includes information on delivery models, best practice, competency frameworks and governance. (NHS Futures login required)
BTS/Respiratory Futures Treating Tobacco Dependence project – Respiratory Futures and the British Thoracic Society (BTS) resources to support health care professionals to plan, implement and improve the delivery of tobacco treatment services:
- Tobacco dependency roadmap – sets out the 7 steps involved in delivering a successful tobacco dependency treatment service within your trust
- BTS webinars based on the steps in the roadmap
- Case studies
National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) guidance and e-learning – Free, e-learning and briefings to support the implementation of NHS tobacco dependence treatment services and local authority stop smoking services.
CLeaR local tobacco control assessment – Guidance for local authorities, public health bodies and the NHS on using ‘deep dive’ self-assessment tools to improve their tobacco control work. Includes specific deep-dive tools for acute, mental health and maternity settings.
Data and insight
OHID Local Tobacco Control Profiles – Presents national, regional and local tobacco prevalence data on smoking prevalence and inequalities.
OHID Tobacco Control Dashboard – Brings together key indicators on tobacco control in a visual tool and has been designed to help present local data in reports, presentations and webinars.
ASH Ready Reckoner – Shows the costs of smoking to society at national, regional, ICB and local authority levels. Includes breakdowns for healthcare, productivity and social care.
National policy and guidance
NHS 10‑Year Health Plan for England (2025) - Sets out a long-term vision for the NHS, including a renewed commitment to embed opt-out smoking cessation in routine hospital care as part of a shift towards prevention.
NHS Long Term Plan (2019) - Introduced comprehensive NHS commitments on tobacco dependence treatment, including support for hospital inpatients, pregnant women, and people using specialist mental health services.
2017 Tobacco Control Plan for England – Sets out the Government’s plan to reduce smoking in England, with the aim of creating a smoke-free generation. The plan includes a commitment that NHS trusts will “encourage smokers using, visiting and working in the NHS to quit.”
NICE Guidance [NG209] Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence– NG209 sets out the evidence-based model for delivering smoking cessation support in the NHS.
The Khan Review – Making Smoking Obsolete (June 2022) – Independent review setting out recommendations on how the Government’s ambition to reduce the national smoking rate to less than 5% by 2030 can be achieved.