E-cigarettes could be prescribed by the NHS to help smokers quit

Both me and the missus went from being... fairly committed smokers to vaping to not really bothering all in under a year. I think she was about 3 months into vaping before she didn't really bother with it any more unless we were out (the old smoke+drink partnership).
I only bother vaping with a mate at work as it gets me away from my desk and when I'm out, otherwise I don't really bother at home.

I will say though, if you have a mate who wants vaping to work for them but is finding it a slog, check what they're using. The bullet sized/shaped tank on a battery about as thick as finger vaping stuff (bare basic £15-20 a kit crap) are pretty poor. Doesn't need MUCH more (£35 on a nautilus mini + suitable battery is fine) but those uber cheap kits are fairly awful.
 
Rofflay said:
NHS basics...

Why do fat people not stop spending so much on food and save or get a loan for a gastric band? Why do people not pay for boob jobs. Or why do people who come in injured from sports or bike racing not made to sell thier bikes to foot the treatment?

An addiction an addiction is an addiction. And fair is fair.
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not really, you're comparing treatments that require medical personnel/resources with funding something that people can buy from the shops themselves

it is more like writing the fat person a prescription to give them a free weekly shopping delivery instead of just advising them on ways to eat healthily
 
Rofflay said:
NHS basics...

Why do fat people not stop spending so much on food and save or get a loan for a gastric band? Why do people not pay for boob jobs. Or why do people who come in injured from sports or bike racing not made to sell thier bikes to foot the treatment?

An addiction an addiction is an addiction. And fair is fair.
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But this isn't a cure or a treatment or a quitting aid it's just a different format of nicotine that's available in the shops for much less than cigerrets . It's like saying "we should prescribe low tar ciggeretes as they're better than cigarettes"
 
Greebo said:
Exactly. Its like my old boss who's hobby was mountain climbing. Several times he needed to be rescued and was injured. He didnt have to pay to be rescued or for his medical treatment.
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Bur if he was fat because he drank 5 liters of coke a day you think it would be acceptable for the NHS to pay for 5 liters of coke zero a day for him instead?
 
Tefal said:
Bur if he was fat because he drank 5 liters of coke a day you think it would be acceptable for the NHS to pay for 5 liters of coke zero a day for him instead?
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I would find it acceptable for the NHS to prescribe the best treatment to improve their health. Its thats 5 litre of zero coke so be it.

You cant have a free medical service and then pick and choose on who deserves it or not.

Although I do diasgaree with 55 year olds been given help to conceive when they have children already.
 
Greebo said:
I would find it acceptable for the NHS to prescribe the best treatment to improve their health. Its thats 5 litre of zero coke so be it.
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why do they have to prescribe everything - surely a GP can give people guidance on basic lifestyle changes without having to write out free prescriptions for stuff

prescriptions for gluten free food, e-cigs etc.. are just wasting resources IMO

what next - 'oh I think exercise will help you' - does the GP advise walking regularly, maybe taking up swimming or jogging - or should they, using the same principle as the e-cigs, write a 'prescription' for free gym membership?
 
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dowie said:
no obviously he'd need a prescription for 5 litres of diet coke to wean him off the regular coke

you can't just tell them to give up coke and/or advise them to try diet coke*


(*yes I know diet coke is also terrible for you too)
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Coke zero had less calories than diet coke...

But why should you prescribe it when it's the same price or cheaper and he could make the change himself?
 
Tefal said:
But this isn't a cure or a treatment or a quitting aid it's just a different format of nicotine that's available in the shops for much less than cigerrets . It's like saying "we should prescribe low tar ciggeretes as they're better than cigarettes"
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I know they are cheaper but in this case its cheaper for the NHS than all the other forms of treatment to help quit smoking plus has a much higher success ratio.

So you would advocate the NHS spends more on treatment with a poorer success rate?
 
Greebo said:
I know they are cheaper but in this case its cheaper for the NHS than all the other forms of treatment to help quit smoking plus has a much higher success ratio.

So you would advocate the NHS spends more on treatment with a poorer success rate?
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no - he's advocating not paying for the e-cigs via the NHS... a doctor can still advise that a patient use them
 
Tefal said:
Coke zero had less calories than diet coke...

But why should you prescribe it when it's the same price or cheaper and he could make the change himself?
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Not quite a fair comparison as coke is addictive or we dont have an issue with people addicted to coke anyway.

Cigarettes kill and and are more addictive than cocaine.

so we should help any way possible surely?
 
dowie said:
no - he's advocating not paying for the e-cigs via the NHS... a doctor can still advise that a patient use them
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But if people, who sometimes need a push, wont buy ecigs themselves but would use them been prescribed then why not give them a kick start? Clearly they arent so the doctor prescribes gum or patches or Champix which is all 10 times more expensive and comes out of his budget or go for the one with the best success rate and is 10 times cheaper?

If zero coke say took people off some form of addiction like say alcoholics, would you object to doctor's prescribing zero coke to help patients even though they could have gone and bought it themselves?

On the other hand I have been prescribed drugs which are cheaper to buy from Boots than pay the prescription charges. Why dont doctors just tell you to guy buy whatever you need in these cases?
 
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Greebo said:
so we should help any way possible surely?
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yup, why does that have to involve giving the e-cigs away for free on prescription as opposed to just advising that they can be used?

should fat people get free gym memberships, free healthy food shopping or just be advised to do more exercise?
 
dowie said:
yup, why does that have to involve giving the e-cigs away for free on prescription as opposed to just advising that they can be used?

should fat people get free gym memberships, free healthy food shopping or just be advised to do more exercise?
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If advising works then fine. If not and the nation goes to pot with 50% of the population obese and with diabetics then surely better to try and do what you can to avoid massive costs later?
 
Tefal said:
Coke zero had less calories than diet coke...

But why should you prescribe it when it's the same price or cheaper and he could make the change himself?
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To be fair. Sure, the NHS can prescribe Coke Zero. I'd be happy with that. They could make money on the prescription cost, as you can be sure that they will get Coke Zero for less than £8.20 or whatever the charge is down south.
 
Greebo said:
But if people, who sometimes need a push, wont buy ecigs themselves but would use them been prescribed then why not give them a kick start? Clearly they arent so the doctor prescribes gum or patches or Champix which is all 10 times more expensive and comes out of his budget or go for the one with the best success rate and is 10 times cheaper?
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anyone who can afford cigarettes can afford e-cigs, they don't need a prescription for them

On the other hand I have been prescribed drugs which are cheaper to buy from Boots than pay the prescription charges. Why dont doctors just tell you to guy buy whatever you need in these cases?
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they usually do IME - you can always ask the pharmacist when you bring in the prescription
 
Greebo said:
If advising works then fine. If not and the nation goes to pot with 50% of the population obese and with diabetics then surely better to try and do what you can to avoid massive costs later?
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I doubt it is cost effective to dish out free gym memberships to everyone who ought to be advised they need to exercise more - that would be a few hundred pounds a year each for about half the adults in the UK
 
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