Over 1,000 people across Hertfordshire were admitted to hospital in 2018 due to smoking, new data has revealed.

Figures by

Vape Club

revealed there were 1,332 smoking attributable hospital admissions per 100,000 of the population in the region last year.

However, this meant that Hertfordshire is under the 1.5% UK average for smoking hospital attributable admissions.

The West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said while it was pleased the region is below the national average, people should think about going “smoke-free”.

A spokesperson said: “Being smoke-free not only adds years to your life, but also greatly improves your chances of a disease-free, mobile, happier old age.

“As one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK, smoking has a large impact on the health service we provide.

“Smoking increases your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions and half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis.

“West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is smoke-free across all of our sites and was rated as Green, scoring 7/7 in a recently smoke-free survey by Public Health England.

“We would encourage people to help us maintain this by respecting our non-smoking rules and continuing to politely challenge those who do not.”