Service case study: Medway vape pilot
Seven community pharmacies across Medway are participating in a pilot to include vaping (e-cigarettes) as a treatment option within their locally commissioned stop smoking service.
Community pharmacy smoking cessation advisors will provide eligible patients with a voucher for a starter kit and a supply of up to four weeks worth of vape liquid. E-cigarettes will then be obtained directly by the patient, using a voucher code system from a provider selected by the Medway Public Health Team.
As part of the service, smoking cessation clients will be entitled to six nicotine replacement therapy products and up to four weeks’ worth of vape liquid. The pilot service only recommends vaping in the short term as a quit aid.
The pilot is in response to the Government’s ambition for England to be smokefree by 2030 and follows reflection by the Medway Public Health Team, that to achieve this, 50% of smokers will need to undertake a quit attempt every year.
Smoking among adults in Medway has reduced to 12.7% and the pilot seeks to accelerate the local rate of smoking cessation to meet the Government’s ambition, particularly for those disproportionately affected by the health and economic inequalities caused by smoking.
Speaking about the service, Mark Anyaegbuna, Chief Officer of Kent LPC, said:
“To accelerate smoking reduction in Medway and meet government targets, an integrated strategy involving vaping as a safer alternative is essential, especially given reduced pharmacotherapy options. This approach not only targets smoking reduction but also addresses health and economic inequalities, with community pharmacies playing a crucial role in supporting these efforts.”
More information on the Medway Vape pilot can be found under the Stop Smoking section on the Community Pharmacy England Services Database.
NCSCT Incorporating nicotine vaping products (e-cigarettes) into Stop Smoking Services
The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) has a resource on incorporating nicotine vaping products into Stop Smoking Services which makes the case for their inclusion and addresses concerns around vaping.
