E-cigarettes may be prescribed on the NHS to help smokers quit
Whilst e-cigarettes are not risk free, they are believed to be less harmful that smoking tobacco - so ministers are considering making them available on the health service.
Doctors may soon be able to prescribe e-cigarettes on the NHS in a bid to help smokers give up tobacco for good.
Smokers trying to kick the habit may soon find that their GP can make an e-cigarette available to them on prescription, after the government has said it is considering making vapes available on the health service.
Guidance from the medicines regulator is due to be updated in England, and the addition of e-cigarettes is on the governments’ agenda.
If e-cigarettes were to be made available, it would be a world-first – with England becoming the first country to offer licensed vapes to patients via its health service.
Pointing to statistics that say 64,000 people died from smoking-related causes in 2019, Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the government wants to help people kick the habit – and think this is the way forward.
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Whilst vaping products are not risk-free themselves and contain nicotine, just like cigarettes, some experts do believe they are less harmful than smoking tobacco.
According to Ash.org, there are around 6.9 million adult smokers in the UK. The organisation also notes that since the 70s the proportion of people who have never smoked has increased massively – from 37.4% in 1974 to 60.4% in 2019.
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Meanwhile here ere in Manchester, it’s estimated by Manchester.gov that there are around 91,500 smokers aged 18 and over – equivalent to 21.7%.
Speaking on the plans to introduce e-cigarettes to the NHS, Mr Javid told The Mirror: “This country continues to be a global leader on healthcare, whether it’s our Covid-19 vaccine rollout saving lives or our innovative public health measures reducing people’s risk of serious illness.
“Opening the door to a licensed e-cigarette prescribed on the NHS has the potential to tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country, helping people stop smoking wherever they live and whatever their background.”
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The government has also said that e-cigarettes are “highly effective” in helping people quit, pointing to research that shows more smokers choose vapes (27.2%) than patches and gum (18.2%).
New rules from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency would mean in order for vapes to be approved for use on the NHS, firms would have to ask the watchdog – just as drugs and vaccine producers do.
Once an e-cigarette is granted MHRA approval, it would then be up to doctors to decide on an individual case basis whether a prescription would be suitable for a patient.
Deborah Arnott, of the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: “Just as the MHRA led the world in licensing vaccines for COVID-19, today it is leading the world by backing medicinal licensing of e-cigarettes.
“This is entirely justified, as the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has pointed out, smoking is likely to have caused more premature deaths in the UK last year than the Covid pandemic.
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“Thanks to vaccines, Covid-19 is being brought under control, but smoking will kill as many people this year as last.
“With nearly 7 million smokers in the UK, smoking will continue to kill people for many years to come until we make smoking obsolete.
“Smokers find it hard to quit, taking on average 30 attempts to succeed, which is why we need new tools in the toolbox, such as medicinally licensed e-cigarettes.”
“Thanks to vaccines, Covid-19 is being brought under control, but smoking will kill as many people this year as last.
Manchester United reinstate season ticket of fan with dementia after fury over cancellation
Danny Jones
Manchester United have quickly reinstated the season ticket of a lifelong fan suffering from dementia after it was cancelled following confusion over his attendance.
The Premier League was met with huge backlash this week after a fan account on social media posted a message from a fellow supporter explaining how their grandfather had been stripped of his season ticket for supposedly failing to attend the last five games – only that wasn’t the case at all.
As detailed in the lengthy text shared countless times on X, the elderly fan who not only struggles with the neurological condition but also doesn’t own a mobile phone, has been using a paper ticket with a QR code printed on it ever since the majority of stadiums transitioned to largely digital ticketing systems.
Not only were many quick to point out that e-ticketing can be excluding for fans of a certain age and/or accessibility needs but the result in this instance could have been avoided had they taken into account an issue no doubt many other supporters face week in and week out.
@MUSTChair@MU_ST can you guys investigate this? I am not surprised but this is disgusting behaviour. Granted it's no doubt an automated IT system but the club need to make arrangements for the older/non IT fan
As the message goes on to explain, the QR code itself “hasn’t worked all season” and the stewards have simply been making an exception and letting him in on good faith and discretion, along with the presumption that there may have just been an error during the printing of the ticket.
However, since had and could not be scanned on each of these occasions, there was no real record of his entry on their database whatsoever, meaning that he unknowingly hit the limit of games supporters are allowed to miss before a season ticket can be removed.
As a result, not only was his season ticket of more than 45 years cancelled but his seat was immediately relisted for the ballot and quickly sold to someone else ahead of the Brighton game on Sunday, 21 January – at a now inflated price, no less.
Understandably, United supporters and various other clubs were left shocked by the error of the club, damning the decision as “shameful” and disgusting”, with many claiming that they are once again turning their back on so-called ‘legacy fans’.
One person replied: “Man United failing in their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act / Equality Act 2010, with regard to reasonable adjustments, and the club is now vulnerable to legal action […] Scandalous that clubs cannot just do the right thing anymore and only see fans as cash cows to exploit and (effectively) abuse as they see fit.”
What’s even more alarming is the worry that this has already or will happen again to other fans in similar situations, as a fellow Red responding to a response from the club reinforced the same concerns, claiming that they were unwilling to make reasonable adjustments for a family member with Alzheimer’s.
I'm the same. My mum has alzheimer's and I can't always go, especially to night matches but it maybe short notice so can't sell ticket. I asked if this could be taken into consideration at the end of the season and they said no. If you miss games then sell your ticket.
Thankfully, as per multiple outlets, the club has now at the very least rectified this particular mistake and although the club’s Director of Supporter Services had been “unhelpful” up until that point, the right steps have finally been taken.
On the other hand, as the original poster wrote following the update, “Good to hear this has now been resolved, but it should never have happened in the first place.”
Moreover, it’s clear that better measures and safeguarding practices need to be put into place when it comes to contingencies like this because although the Premier League has stated a full switch to digital e-tickets must be complete by the end of 2027 at the latest, there will always need to be exceptions.
As for ticket prices themselves, another banner up at Old Trafford after the club adjusted ticket prices and removed concessions across all categories for the remainder of the season – it read: £66 of your debt, not ours”. It’s not the first time fans have already protested since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s tenure began.
“£66 you’re taking the p*ss” sing those protesting behind the banner. There are also chants of “you’re forcing us out.” pic.twitter.com/L34l36uvXk
North Manchester General Hospital to be rebuilt and replaced with new ‘world-class facility’
Emily Sergeant
North Manchester General Hospital is set to be rebuilt following new commitment by the Government, it has been announced.
After a review of the New Hospital Programme was carried out, and found that the previous Government’s commitment to deliver ’40 new hospitals by 2030′ was behind-schedule, unfunded, and therefore, undeliverable, the Department of Health and Social Care has today confirmed funding and a realistic timetable to deliver all of its hospital projects.
This credible timeline for delivery, according to the Government, will ensure that staff and patients have access to the facilities they desperately need around the country “as soon as possible”.
Buildings and equipment across the UK that had been left to crumble, disrupting patient care and hindering staff, had been inherited by the new Government, which is why ministers said they are now “committed” to rebuilding the NHS.
North Manchester General Hospital will be replaced with a new ‘world-class facility’ / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The new plan – which the Government say is “affordable and honest” – will be backed with £15 billion of new investment over consecutive five-year waves, averaging £3 billion a year.
Hospitals in Wave 1 of the Programme, which includes North Manchester General Hospital, are expected to begin construction anytime between 2025 and 2030 – with these schemes including hospitals constructed primarily using RAAC, and have been prioritised due to patient and staff safety being paramount.
Read why the much-welcome certainty on the rebuild of North Manchester General Hospital is so much bigger than just a medical story. Full statement here: https://t.co/bspZ20opz2pic.twitter.com/e50QNDDoF1
“We wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s certainty and commitment around the future of North Manchester General Hospital and its plans for a full rebuild,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council.
“Working together with our communities, we will ensure that the new North Manchester General Hospital does not just provide excellent healthcare but also improves the health and quality of life for the communities which it serves.
“This rebuild is the lynchpin of that vision, and we are ready now to make it a reality.”
The Government says its plan for implementation of the New Hospital Programme sets out a clear pipeline of schemes to be delivered over the next decade and beyond.
Georgina Pellant -
29th October 2021 
