NHS plans vaping crackdown: Restrictions on flavours and adverts that appeal to children are needed as number of youngsters hospitalised after using e-cigarettes quadruples in two years, experts warn
- NHS Chief Amanda Pritchard described it as ‘seriously concerning’
The NHS are attempting to clampdown on vaping by restricting flavours and advertisement that appeal to children after the number of youngsters hospitalised by vaping has quadrupled in two years.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, described the increase in hospital admissions among the young as ‘seriously concerning’.
The growing number of hospital admissions has led ministers to believe that the restriction of flavours and ban on disposable devices as ideal measures to impose.
A ban on sport sponsorship deals is also said to be on the cards as well as licensing for e-cigarette retailers.
According to Whitehall sources new regulations look increasingly likely in the next few months although no decisions have been made report The Times.
The NHS are attempting to crackdown on vaping by restricting flavours and advertisement that appeal to children after the number of youngsters hospitalised by vaping has quadrupled in two years (File image)
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, described the increase in hospital admissions among the young as ‘seriously concerning’
Mrs Pritchard also attacked firms for ‘deliberately’ targeting youngsters with appealing flavours.
Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, Mrs Pritchard said there were 40 admissions for ‘vaping-related disorders’ among patients under the age of 20 last year – up from 11 just two years earlier.
Typical disorders include lung damage or a worsening of asthma symptoms. Her remarks come after The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned ‘youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children’ and called for a ban on disposable vapes.
It added e-cigarettes ‘are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes’.
It called for urgent action to protect children, saying experts agree that long-term data is needed on the effects of vaping, particularly in regard to cardiovascular disease.
Mrs Pritchard told the conference of health leaders: ‘The report last week from the RCPCH of children presenting to hospital with conditions that can be linked to vaping was really worrying.
‘While to many young people vaping can seem harmless with appealing flavours – at least two people in every year ten classroom have vaped – its use can lead to lung damage.
The RCPCH is right to call for action and the Government are right to be taking those calls seriously.’
Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: ‘Swift action is needed by Government to limit youth vaping and maintain the opportunity for adults to use vapes as a quitting aid.’
