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** 23 February 2024
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** UK
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** Single-use vapes to be banned in Scotland by April 2025 (#9)
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** Bedford shop could lose licence after illegal tobacco found hidden in the ceiling (#1)
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** Seeing the same GP better for patients and doctors, study says’ (#2)
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** Online slot machine stakes to be capped at £5 in Great Britain (#3)
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** Link of the week
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** Tell us why ending smoking matters to you (#4)
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** NICE Guidance update: Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence (#5)
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** Want to take part in a TV show on Channel 4? (#8)
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** UK
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** Single-use vapes to be banned in Scotland by April 2025

Single-use vapes could be banned in Scotland by April 1 next year, the Scottish Government has said.

Draft legislation has been published by ministers after Scotland joined England and Wales to ban the disposable e-cigarettes.

It follows recommendations from a UK-wide consultation which looked at how to create a smoke-free generation.

The draft legislation will be open for consultation until March 8, 2024 before being taken forward in Scotland using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Circular economy minister Lorna Slater said the three UK nations had worked together to agree a date for bringing in the ban.

She said: “Legislating to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes fulfils a Programme for Government commitment to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and take action to tackle the environmental impact.

“The public consultation demonstrated that there is strong support for tougher action on vaping.

“From causing fires in waste facilities to more than 26 million disposable vapes being consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the past year, single-use vapes are a threat to our environment as well as to our public health.

“These proposed changes to the law demonstrate our absolute commitment to further improve the wellbeing of communities and protecting our beautiful natural environment.”
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**
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** The Scottish Government will also bring forward UK-wide plans to increase the age for purchasing tobacco, making it illegal for anyone born after January 1, 2009 to buy the product.

Source: The Independent, 23 February 2024

See also: Scottish government - Action on single-use vapes ([link removed].)
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** Bedford shop could lose licence after illegal tobacco found hidden in the ceiling

A Bedford shop could lose its ability to sell alcohol after illegal tobacco was found on the site by Trading Standards – despite warnings being given in the past.

This morning (Thursday, February 22) Bedford Borough Council’s (Licensing Act 2003) Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to consider an application to review the premises licence for Pod Orlem, 53-55 Ford End Road, Bedford.

The sub-committee heard that Trading Standards and Borough Council Licensing Officers visited Pod Orlem on September 27, 2023 to conduct a search of the premises for the presence of illegal tobacco.

A concealed compartment between plasterboards and ceiling was found – after unscrewing a light fitting- containing 16,960 cigarettes, which were seized.

A report to the sub-committee said this seizure followed two test purchases of illegal tobacco made at the store in February and March 2023 for which warning letters were issued.

Source: Bedford Today, 22 February 2024
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** Seeing the same GP better for patients and doctors, study says’

Continually seeing the same doctor at GP surgeries improves patient health and reduces workload, according to a study.

University of Cambridge researchers found patients who had long-term relationships with their doctor experienced a range of benefits.

Study co-author Prof Stefan Scholtes said this practice reduced future workloads by "preventing revisits".

About 10 million GP consultations were analysed over 11 years in the research.

The study, jointly conducted by the Cambridge Judge Business School and INSEAD business school in Fontainebleau, France, found people waited on average 18% longer between visits, compared with patients who saw different doctors.

Lead author Dr Harshita Kajaria-Montag, who is now based at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the US, said: "If you're a patient with complex health needs, you don't want to have to explain your whole health history at every appointment.

"If you have a regular doctor who's familiar with your history, it's a far more efficient use of time, for doctor and patient."

Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, vice-chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said "continuity of care is highly valued by GPs and patients alike" but family doctors were facing "intense workload and workforce pressures".

She said: "Political agendas prioritising speedy access to GP services above all else... greatly limit the level of continuity we can offer."

A fully-qualified GP is now responsible for 260 more patients than they were six years ago and "makes guaranteed access to the same GP for every patient practically impossible," she added.

Source: BBC News, 23 February 2024

See also: Kajaria-Montag, H., Freeman M. and Scholtes S. (2024) “Continuity of care increases physician productivity in primary care ([link removed]) .” Management Science (forthcoming)
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** Online slot machine stakes to be capped at £5 in Great Britain

The amount that can be staked on the spin of an online slot machine will be capped at £5, or £2 for younger customers, as part of government plans to tighten regulation of the £11bn-a-year gambling industry in Great Britain.

Online slots are currently exempt from limits on how much punters can wager.

But under plans revealed by the Guardian on Wednesday and confirmed on Thursday, online stake limits will be brought more closely into line with machines in bricks-and-mortar bookmakers and casinos, starting from September.

The measure, part of a package of gambling proposals set out in a white paper last year, is expected to cost the gambling industry almost £170m of its annual £10.9bn revenues, according to the government’s calculations.

Charles Ritchie, a co-founder of the charity Gambling with Lives, said: “The £2 limit for under-25s is a step in the right direction, but £5 for over-25s is another missed opportunity to stop the harm to millions and the devastation caused by gambling suicides.

“Stake limits offer some reduction in harm but the products are still highly addictive, so we also need much slower spin speeds, affordability checks, and proper public health information about the dangers.”

In a press release, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said online slot machines were “associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play”.

It said the decision to impose a lower limit for under-25s was based on evidence showing higher rates of problem gambling among younger people, who also have lower disposable income and whose brains are still developing, affecting their assessment of risk.

Source: The Guardian, 23 February 2024

See also Department for Culture, Media and Sport – Policy paper: High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age ([link removed])
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** Link of the week
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** Tell us why ending smoking matters to you

ASH is holding an event in Parliament on No Smoking Day to bring together people whose lives have been impacted by smoking and young people who will benefit from the Government’s smokefree generation legislation. It will be an opportunity for MPs to meet local people and hear about why raising the age of sale and creating a smokefree generation matters to them.

We will also be using the event to commemorate loved ones lost to smoking related illness and highlight the impact smoking has had on people across the UK. If you have lost someone to smoking, you can send us a photo of them along with their name and brief description. You can also send us a paragraph briefly explaining the impact smoking has had on you/your loved ones and why creating a smokefree generation matters to you. These will be displayed on a screen as part of a series of during the event.

To submit a photo/personal story complete the form by clicking the button below. Please do so by Friday the 1st of March.

Submit button link: [link removed]
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** NICE Guidance update: Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have confirmed that they will be updating their guidelines for smoking cessation. The update will focus on the inclusion of cytisine as a medicinally licensed product to be used as a stop-smoking intervention. The guideline currently states that varenicline, nicotine-containing e‑cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) are more likely to result in people successfully stopping smoking. The available evidence confirms that cytisine has a comparable effect, safety and cost to these recommended products.
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** Want to take part in a TV show on Channel 4?

Channel 4 are currently recruiting candidates for their new show and are looking for couples who want to quit smoking to feature.

They would like to hear from people with a range of different stories and connections to smoking, especially if they are seriously considering starting on their quitting journey. They are happy to work with people who are using stop smoking services, but just to note, as part of the series participants will be using nicotine replacement treatment.

They are looking to invite selected contributors to a filmed interview over the next few months as they embark on their 60-90 day quit journey. The project will feature a second interview at the end of their 60-90 days. There are no exact filming dates, but the process will take 5/6 weeks.

If you are interested, you can email the casting team directly at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to introduce yourself or ask any questions.
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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