The number of smoking cessation prescription items dispensed in England dropped by more than 1.5 million over a decade according to official figures.

NHS Digital revealed that 710,000 items were dispensed in 2019-20 compared with 2.48 million in 2009-10. The number of items hit a peak of 2.56 million in 2010-11.

The data also highlighted a 10 per cent increase in smoking-related hospital admissions during the same 10-year period, with over 506,000 admissions in 2019-20 compared with 461,700 in 2009-10.

However, the proportion of all admissions attributed to smoking fell from five per cent in 2010 to four per cent in 2020. This, NHS Digital said, was “because the overall number of hospital admissions has increased".

Five per cent and three per cent of all admissions for males and females respectively in 2019-20 was due to smoking.

The number of deaths attributed to smoking fell in 2019 to 74,600, a three per cent drop on 2018 figures and nine per cent on 2009. Nineteen per cent of all deaths were male and 12 per cent female.

The highest number of smoking cessation items dispensed in 2019-20 was reported by Bradford City clinical commissioning group with 45 per 1,000 population while Wyre Forest, South Worcestershire, Stafford and Surrounds, Rotherham and Redditch and Bromsgrove had rates of less than one item per 1,000 population.