Although smoking remains the number one factor that places the most people at risk of poor health, statistics have revealed people living in the Hunter New England Health region are giving their fags the flick.

A national survey conducted in 1990 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed about 30 per cent of adults smoked cigarettes regularly.

The latest available data from NSW Health indicates the proportion of residents living in the Hunter New England Health region that smoke has fallen to 22.9 per cent in 2005.

In current population terms, this means there are about 40,000 fewer smokers today than 15 years ago.

Smokers in the Hunter New England Health region also appear to be increasingly sensitive to the needs of others around them.

About 67 per cent of smokers reported that they did not smoke within their own house.

That proportion is even higher in households where there are young children with 74 per cent of smokers with children younger than six in their home reporting that their home was smoke-free.

Despite this substantial improvement, there is still some way to go to catch up with 94 per cent of both ex-smokers and non-smokers reporting that their home is now totally smoke-free.

Smoke-free Health Service Project Manager Jenny Knight said although there is still much work to be done this is a great achievement by the people of the Hunter New England Health region.

"I am particularly pleased about the increasing benefits for children because the impact of smoking is life-long. The negative effects can start even before babies are born."

"A baby who is exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy is often born about 300 grams lighter than a child whose mother does not smoke during her pregnancy. Low birth weight babies often have poorly developed organs which can mean sicker babies and more sleepless nights for parents."

Children exposed to smoking are at increased risk of SIDS and life threatening conditions such as asthma as they get older.

 "Help is increasingly available for people who are considering giving up. People can ring the Quit Line on 137 848," Ms Knight said.

Hunter New England Health itself is tackling the problem front on.

Patients admitted to hospital are now asked about their smoking status and assisted with nicotine replacement therapy.

Hunter New England Health has also declared all of their campuses smoke-free and that includes the grounds as well as the buildings.