Solutions 4 Health is delighted to announce the launch of a new e-cigarette scheme as part of the Health & Wellbeing Slough stop smoking offer. Slough residents now have the option of using e-cigarettes (also known as vapes) as well as a range of other nicotine replacement products to aid their smoke free journey.
In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a very popular stop smoking aid in the UK. Also known as vapes or e-cigs, they’re far less harmful than cigarettes and can help you quit smoking for good.
While they are not entirely risk free, they have been judged to be at least 95% safer than smoking by Public Health England and other prominent UK health organisations. They have also been shown to be almost twice as effective as licensed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products in helping people to quit in rigorous academic studies.
What are e-cigarettes and how do they work?
An e-cigarette is a device that allows you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke. E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke. They work by heating a liquid that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavourings. Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping.
Many thousands of people in the UK have already stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette. There’s growing evidence that they can be effective.
You can learn more about e-cigarettes on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/using-e-cigarettes-to-stop-smoking/.
Smokers wanting to quit will have the opportunity to receive a voucher to redeem in a chosen vape shop for an e-cigarette with e-liquids on week 1, and one-to-one behavioural support from an expert stop smoking coach for 12 weeks, including follow up vouchers for e-liquids on a weekly basis.
Smokers will not get the full benefit from vaping unless they stop smoking cigarettes completely.
The scheme is only available for those living, working and studying in Slough or for those registered with a GP in Slough. There will be no cost implication to the Slough community, and anyone is free to sign up/refer to.
Health & Wellbeing Slough is commissioned by Slough Borough Council and Frimley ICB to provide an integrated lifestyle service for Slough residents.
To access the service, people can self-refer or make a professional referral by:
- Calling 01753 373646 / 0800 0614734
- Completing a referral form here: https://healthandwellbeingslough.co.uk/referral-form/
Reporting a safety concern with e-cigarettes
Reporting of suspected side effect to health from using an e cigarette or would like to report a product defect, report these via the Yellow Card Scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
