Smoking is being banned in an increasing number of UK hospitals. But vejping is allowed - to encourage smokers.
"We want to give more smokers a reason to switch to e-cigarettes," says John Newton of PHE.
An increasing number of hospitals in the UK are banning smoking in their areas. At the same time, hospitals are encouraging smokers to use electronic cigarettes by setting up special 1TP8 boxes. This time it concerns the psychiatric care in the county of Cumbria.
'Smoking and breathing second-hand smoke increases the risk of a wide range of diseases. We have an obligation to protect our patients from this. And creating a completely smoke-free environment is an important part of that work." say David Muir, responsible for the state-owned Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), which operates several psychiatric care centres.
E-cigs reduce risks
In Sweden it is general smoking ban both analogue and electronic cigarettes. But in the UK, hospitals, together with the authorities, have a different approach to reducing smoking.
"There is no situation where it is better to continue smoking than to switch completely to e-cigarettes." Says John Newton, responsible for health improvement at Public Health England to the BBC. and concludes that the risk of injury is reduced by up to 95% for smokers who switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes.
Smoke more than average - die earlier
As Vejpkollen previously reported, people suffering from mental health problems smoke significantly more than the average. Mortality in the group with severe mental illnesses is also significantly higher. Life expectancy in this group is 15-20 years lower than the UK average. And according to the NHS, smoking is the main cause.
Meanwhile, independent UK studies show that e-cigarettes are the method sum works best when people with mental health problems try to quit smoking, especially in combination with professional support. UK health authorities, medical societies and health organisations therefore actively encourages smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, if the will is there.
"We want to make good and prudent use of the opportunities that e-cigarettes offer to smokers who want to switch," says Mr Perez. John Newton to the BBC.
Hospitals allow e-cigarettes
Health authorities have also been actively working to make hospitals smoke-free since 2018. Several NHS hospitals have since banned smoking and are offering instead the possibility to use e-cigarettes. This now also applies to the psychiatric facilities run by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
"Vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking and e-cigarettes can therefore be used in designated areas" says David Muir from CNTW, to local newspaper News & Star.
