West Ipswich smoking rate double the county average

Why it matters: Smoking is the single greatest risk for early deaths in Suffolk, contributing to nearly 1,000 deaths a year, and smoking rates in parts of Ipswich are much higher than the county average.

The details: Stoptober, now underway, encourages smokers to stop for the month of October. Since launching in 2012, the national campaign has helped millions of people to quit for good.

• Research shows that staying smoke-free for 28 days makes you up to five times more likely to quit for good.
• Smokers are three times more likely to stop with help from services such as Feel Good Suffolk.
• This year's Feel Good Suffolk campaign carries the tagline "Let's quit smoking together".
• Smoking is estimated to cost £586m a year in Suffolk.

By the numbers: Data in the Suffolk Tobacco Control Plan 2026-2030 puts smoking rates in Ipswich at:

• West Ipswich: 21.1%
• East Ipswich: 16.7%

By comparison, 2024 figures put the smoking rate at 10.5% across Suffolk and 10.4% across the UK.

What help is available: All of Feel Good Suffolk's support is free and, depending on people's needs, may include:

• One-to-one support from a trained adviser for up to 12 weeks
• Nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches or gum
• Vape starter kits
• Group support and Allen Carr stop smoking sessions
• Stop smoking medication
• Use of the Smokefree app

This October also marks three years since Feel Good Suffolk launched as the county's stop smoking service. In that time, it has helped nearly 3,700 people to successfully quit.

What they're saying: Georgina Howe, strategic manager for Feel Good Suffolk, said: "Most people who smoke wish they'd never started, but quitting can be incredibly difficult. It often takes more than one attempt to stop for good and that's completely normal."

She added: "We're here to help, not to judge, and we've supported thousands of people across Suffolk to become smoke free. The most important message is that you don't have to do it alone."

Dr Mike Smith, executive medical director at NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, said: "Whatever your age and however long you have smoked, quitting reduces your risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, and the benefits begin almost straight away."

For context: Feel Good Suffolk is a free healthy living service run through a partnership of Suffolk County Council's public health team, the county's five district and borough councils and NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board. It also helps people manage their weight and become more active.

The bottom line: With smoking rates in West Ipswich double the county average, Feel Good Suffolk is urging the town's smokers to use Stoptober to quit, with free help on offer and no need to do it alone.

Refer yourself through the Feel Good Suffolk website at feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk.

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