Patients admitted to selected acute and mental health NHS trusts in the North East and Yorkshire are being offered an innovative digital app to help them quit smoking as part of a new pilot.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in England, killing around 74,600 people in 2019 and costing the NHS £2.5 billion annually.
It causes respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and at least 16 types of cancer, including lung cancer.
Despite a continued decline in smoking rates, 11.6% of adults in England still smoke, with some areas in the North East and Yorkshire exceeding 15%.
The pilot, which runs until the end of February 2026, is assessing whether a digital alternative can support people to take the first step towards quitting smoking.
Participants in the pilot receive a free premium licence for the Smoke Free app, which provides tailored online support, practical advice, and ongoing encouragement.
Unlike many digital health tools, Smoke Free goes beyond self-help, offering 24/7 access to trained advisors who can provide guidance and encouragement.
Through the app, users can share their own quitting stories and tips, creating a supportive community for others on the same journey.
The app also allows patients to monitor their smoke-free progress in real-time, tracking each smoke-free day down to the second, along with the money they have saved and the health benefits they have gained.
Hospital admission is often a significant moment in a person’s life. With one in four people admitted to hospital as smokers, it provides a key opportunity to offer support to help them stop smoking for good.
Dr Joe Chidanyika, Programme Manager at Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), a leading organisation in the pilot, said: “Hospital admission might be for conditions unrelated to smoking, but it creates a unique opportunity to talk about quitting.
“By offering a digital alternative like the Smoke Free app, with 24/7 live support from real people, we can reach patients who may not want traditional services and provide ongoing encouragement to help them succeed.”
Patients are introduced to the app during their hospital stay, giving them access to tailored support that continues at home.
Alongside the app, patients are offered a free nicotine vape or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches or mouth spray, from the onsite tobacco dependency treatment service.
While vaping isn’t risk-free, it is significantly less harmful than smoking and can help patients to stop smoking entirely.
Dave Jones, Programme Manager for the Centre for Excellence, Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “People don’t always come to hospital thinking, this would be a great time to stop smoking. What we know, though, is that when offered the right kind of support and care, many of them choose to do so and are very successful.
“The offer of the Smoke Free app, with NRT or a vape, is a real opportunity for people to take a big step towards better health and reduce their risk of future hospital admissions, and that can only be a good thing.”
Dr David Crane, Founder of Smoke Free, shared: “We’re proud to work with the Health Innovation Network and NHS on this important pilot. Smoke Free provides round-the-clock human support and practical tools, so people don’t have to quit alone.
“Helping patients stop smoking at this crucial moment not only transforms their health, but it also supports better recovery and reduces the risk of readmission, benefiting both patients and the NHS.”
The pilot is being delivered in partnership by HI NENC, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, NHS England for North East & Yorkshire and the four Integrated Care Boards across the region.
Together, they are working with Smoke Free to provide access to the app in participating NHS trusts and gather feedback on its impact.
Nazreen Iqbal, Healthy Hospital Programme Manager at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “For patients who want 24/7 support and have busy schedules that make it difficult to attend face-to-face support meetings in the community, the app provides convenient, on-demand access to the help they need, right at their fingertips.
“We’re seeing more and more patients looking for digital tools to support their health, so it’s great to be able to offer this as part of our service.
“Our team can assist anyone who isn’t confident with technology to set up the app before discharge.”
Rachel McIlvenna, Smokefree NHS Strategic Manager for the North East and North Cumbria ICB, said: “We welcome this opportunity to utilise an innovative approach with our tobacco dependency treatment services in the North East and Yorkshire, to support smokers whilst in hospital and post-discharge to prevent relapse back to smoking.
“In order for us to achieve a smoke-free future, free from the death and disease from tobacco, we need to utilise all the evidence-based effective quitting tools at our disposal, such as the Smoke Free app.”
Dr Chidanyika added: “This initiative shows how collaboration across regions and with innovative partners can make a real difference to public health, giving patients the personalised support they need to take positive steps towards a smoke-free life.”
