IT IS the single biggest cause of premature death from lung disease in Hampshire, costing the county almost £300m over the last 12 months.

And health bosses believe that kicking the smoking habit could be the key to significantly cutting the region’s early death toll.

If not for the sake of their own health, the focus is being directed on the damage caused by passive smoking in the hope that the effects on their loved ones may spark a desire to quit.

Latest figures show that passive smoking cost Hampshire £14.5m in lost productivity as a result of early death in 2012 – a huge sum that doesn’t include NHS costs and absenteeism due to the passive intake of smoke, while an estimated 1,850 people die from smoking-related diseases every year.

As previously reported, latest figures revealed the huge gulf in death rates from the four major killers – cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung and liver disease – between Hampshire and Southampton.

Although Hampshire County Council was ranked among the best performing areas in the country, in tenth position, lung disease was higher than average, with 18 deaths per 100,000.

Southampton City Council was given the “red light” as one of the worst overall, ranked 95th out of 150 local authorities.

As both embark on a mission to reduce the numbers of premature deaths, smoking was highlighted as one of the major causes, with vows to build on quitting services and backing national campaigns.

In Hampshire, estimated smoking rates vary from 13.6 per cent in Test Valley to 24.3 per cent in Rushmoor. The cost of output lost in Hampshire due to smoking is £83.3m, smoking breaks cost £58.9m and the NHS care bill is £54.8m.

To help motivate smokers to quit, Hampshire is backing the second-hand smoke campaign offering free Smokefree Kits, which includes information, guidance and tools to help people stop smoking.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, executive lead member for health and wellbeing at Hampshire County Council, said: “Smoking is the single biggest cause of ill-health and premature death from lung disease, with around 1,850 people in Hampshire dying from smoking-related diseases annually.

“Through our local alliance we continue to share best practice, simplify links between agencies and organisations, support national smokefree campaigns and guide local tobacco control initiatives.

“No level of second-hand smoke is safe for children and this is a great time, and an excellent reason, for the two thirds of smokers who want to quit, to take the first steps to a smoke-free life.

“Not only will this have a positive impact on your children’s health but it will mean that they will be less likely to smoke themselves – children of smokers are ninety per cent more likely to smoke themselves.”

For information visit your GP.