Why Should The Tax Payer Fund This?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1537955/call-for-e-cigarettes-to-be-prescribed-on-nhs

The NHS is heading for meltdown so should we be funding this?

Surely e-cigs are far cheaper than fags so the punters are squids in anyway?

[Gromit]

Hypothetical question.

If the scheme cost £1billion, but resulted in £5billion savings, would you still be against it?

[Retrochic]

I would -I'd rather the money go into research for cancers and diseases that affect children who have done nothing to bring these terrible things upon themselves.

[ludwig]

//..So should alcoholics be bought soft drinks on prescription then?

Should every fat *** be bought an exercise cycle and a set of weights courtesy of all the others who have not abused their bodies? //


It depends. If that stuff is going to cost less than the medication and operations we're already buying for fat *** and alcoholics, then maybe the answer is yes.

[Retrochic]

The thing is, prescribing e cigs without compulsory backup counselling is totally speculative, and providing the counselling is probably the most expensive thing in the equation . Giving the same money instead to scientists for research into diseases that are not connected to lifestyle would be money much better spent.

[EDDIE51]

Retro, It is already the case that compulsory counseling is part of the 'package' when nicotine replacements are prescribed. My wife has had 2 sessions , and has stopped smoking. So the 'expensive part' of the treatment is already in place and has been for several years. e Cigs are cheaper than the equivalent nicotine replacements already prescribed.

[Retrochic]

Its not one to one counselling that is provided -its 'group therapy'.

[EDDIE51]

Sorry , at least here in Hertfordshire it is one to one counseling, you get a breath test that can detect Carbon Monoxide from smoking every time you go so that you can't lie about not smoking. Each person gets a 1/2 hour 1 to 1 session every week for 12 weeks.
The test can detect if you have smoked even one ciggy several days previously. As I said my wife has had 2 lots of the 12 week 1 to 1 and has finally quit smoking after 42 years!

[EDDIE51]

I would add that the counselor my wife had for the anti smoking course even phoned up a few time each week to talk to her and encourage the non smoking! So very much a 1 on 1 service.