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** 8 August 2022
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** UK
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** NHS demands cannot wait for new prime minister, says health secretary (#1)
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** Mother suspects vaping as cause for daughter’s death (#2)
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** Supply of illegal super-strong vapes smuggled to UK from the US ‘linked to organised crime’ (#3)
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** Health and social care levy a ‘missed opportunity’, MPs find (#4)
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** Scotland: SNP ‘should outlaw sweet vapes’ (#4)
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** International
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** India: Parliamentarians appeal for strengthening of tobacco control laws (#6)
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** UK
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** NHS demands cannot wait for new prime minister, says health secretary
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The NHS in England cannot wait for a new prime minister to be in post to tackle the emergency crisis it faces in the autumn and winter, Steve Barclay MP has warned in his first interview as Health Secretary.

Barclay said his department was in a “real sprint to get ready for September” and that decisions, such as increasing international recruitment, could not wait until a new prime minister was in post. Since Boris Johnson’s resignation, concerns have been raised over a “zombie government” where key policy decisions have been put on hold until the autumn when a new leader is in place, prompting opposition parties to accuse ministers of “giving up on governing”.

Barclay’s comments come after expectations of a triple threat to the NHS this winter from seasonal flu, COVID-19 and the fallout from the cost of living crisis, all of which will increase demand on the service. Long waits are expected at hospitals, with as few as 6 in 10 patients expected to be dealt with at A&E departments within the four hour target.

Barclay vowed to make Whitehall “move much more quickly on decisions” and “test the political risk appetite” amongst NHS chiefs to take bolder action. The Health Secretary has reportedly ordered civil servants to “work at pace” on proposals to “significantly increase” overseas recruitment of staff to meet the extra demand. Barclay hopes recruitment will plug gaps in the social care sector in particular, where there are currently 105,000 vacancies. The lack of staff is having a severe knock-on effect for hospitals, leading to delays in discharging patients from wards to free up beds.

Source: Telegraph, 7 August 2022
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** Mother suspects vaping as cause for daughter’s death
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Rachel Howe, the mother of a teenager who died after her lungs collapsed, believes e-cigarettes were the cause and is calling for further research and tougher legislation.

Rosey Christoffersen started smoking occasionally when she was 16 and began using e-cigarettes in September 2014, a few months before her death. She started having chest pains and mild breathing difficulties and was assured by her local GP surgery that the discomfort in her chest was likely to be a pulled muscle. In 2015, 18-year-old Christoffersen collapsed in the street. Both of her lungs had spontaneously collapsed, a condition known as bilateral pneumothorax.

Vaping was never ruled a factor in her daughter’s death, and no inquest was held, but Howe believes they could be responsible. She wants the government to introduce stricter controls on e-cigarettes to stop them appealing to children and young people.

Pneumothorax is a rare condition and can occur in healthy adults, but some doctors are concerned it may be linked to vaping. The journal Respiratory Medicine Case Reports reported in May last year of a possible association between pneumothorax and e-cigarettes, but said a causal relationship had not been established between the two.

A safety review by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment concluded that the risk of adverse health effects from vaping products is expected to be much lower than from cigarettes. The review found that exposure to particulate matter and nicotine could be associated with adverse health effects and that the effects of inhaling flavouring ingredients is uncertain.

Between May 2016 and January 2021 the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK received 231 reports of 618 adverse reactions believed to be associated with vaping products. However, a report is not proof that the reaction was caused by a vaping product, just that the reporter thought it might have been. Since May 2016 there have been three deaths in the UK linked with vaping products.

Wirral University teaching hospital NHS foundation trust, which includes Arrowe Park hospital, said an initial check of its records did not indicate Christoffersen’s death was reported to the coroner.

It said it was not possible to conduct more detailed checks on the case in the time available.

Source: The Observer, 7 August 2022

Editorial note: Members of the public and healthcare professionals can use the Yellow Card Scheme ([link removed]) website to report any suspected side effects or safety concerns with e-cigarettes and the e-liquids used for vaping.
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** Supply of illegal super-strong vapes smuggled to UK from the US ‘linked to organised crime’
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Trading Standards officers have seized thousands of illegal vaping products in locations across the country so far this year. Some of the products contain more than double the size and nicotine strength permitted under current UK law, and are offered in flavours like Fanta and Skittles, prompting concerns they are being targeted at children.

Last month, an annual survey by ASH found the proportion of 11-17 year olds who say they regularly vape has risen from 4 to 7% between 2020 and 2022. Despite it being illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under 18s, almost half of vaping teens say their main source of supply is shops.

Trading Standards have been working closely with a wide range of law enforcement, including police units, border officials and the National Crime Agency. It is believed the influx of illegal vaping products is a result of the tightening of rules on e-cigarettes by American authorities, leading to products being diverted to the UK market.

Operations Manager Tony Shaw said he expects the numbers to rise further: “Rather than a number of individuals suddenly deciding to start selling illegal vapes, I think it is more connected to organised crime, where you’ve got a group of criminals getting these illicit vapes and putting them into their own supply chain.”

It comes amid concerns that social media influencers are also promoting them to younger audiences through platforms such as TikTok.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, said: “The disposable vapes that have surged in popularity over the last year are brightly coloured pocket-sized products with sweet flavours and sweet names, and are widely available for under a fiver - no wonder they’re attracting children. As the Khan review recommended to the government, an additional £15 million needs to be invested in enforcement, and this should include vaping as well as tobacco products. The law also needs strengthening to prohibit child-friendly packaging and labelling of vaping products and to prevent promotion on social media.”

Source: I News, 7 August 2022
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** Health and social care levy a ‘missed opportunity’, MPs find
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The government has “missed the opportunity” given by the health and social care levy as the public see taxes going to social care which “won’t touch the sides”, the Commons' levelling up committee has warned.

The report by the levelling up, housing & communities committee says adult social care needs at least £7bn a year to meet the cost of reforms, rising costs, and unmet care needs. The report says "the message rang clear throughout our inquiry – the adult social care sector does not have enough funding either in the here or now or longer term”.

A health and social care levy of 1.25% on national insurance introduced in April has been projected to raise about £36bn over three years, of which £5.4bn is earmarked to fund some reforms. However, the committee pointed to growing concerns that the government has “underestimated the combined cost of its charging reforms”. Added to this is the existing lack of long-term sustainable funding for the sector.

The report comes as leadership candidates have been spelling out their own intentions on how they would fund social care. Mr Sunak has said he would keep the health and care levy on national insurance, pledging instead to cut 4p from income tax. Ms Truss has said she will look at scrapping the levy. However, she was clear that she would look to increase funding for social care overall through taxation elsewhere and cutting public sector debt.

Martin Tett, the County Councils’ Network social care spokesperson said the research shows the reforms "could be underfunded by at least £10bn over the next decade, with county areas most exposed [...] The new government needs to go further by delaying the implementation of social care reforms beyond October 2023 so that councils are given more time and resources to ensure the reforms are implemented successfully,"

Source: Local Government Chronicle, 4 August 2022
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** Scotland: SNP ‘should outlaw sweet vapes’
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Scottish ministers are coming under pressure to ban the sale of vapes that mimic the smell and taste of confectionery. The call follows growing anxiety about the popularity of the fruity and brightly coloured devices, which contain nicotine and are becoming an increasingly common feature in primary and secondary schools. Flavours include candy, bubblegum and sherbet.

Authorities in China, which produces many of the disposable vapes on the market, including Elf bars, recently barred vendors in their own country from selling e-cigarette flavours other than tobacco, but the restrictions do not apply to China’s exports. Similar controls are under consideration in Ireland.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland, said: “The sweet tastes and vibrant colouring of e-cigarettes that are particularly attractive to young people and are major contributing factors to this upsurge need to be addressed.”

Duffy added that Scotland should pay attention to developments in New Zealand, where a generational ban on tobacco sales is set to be introduced in the coming years: “We want the Scottish government’s new tobacco action plan to be equally bold as New Zealand’s and include policies that are proven to be effective, as we look to get Scotland on track to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2034.”

The Scottish government said: “A range of actions are being considered as part of our refreshed tobacco control action plan.”

Source: Sunday Times, 7 August 2022
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** International
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** India: Parliamentarians appeal for strengthening of tobacco control laws
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The People's Cultural Centre (PECUC), a leading voluntary organisation, together with Coalition for Tobacco Free Odisha, held a meeting with MPs on protecting Indians, especially children and young people from tobacco-related diseases and cancer, which claim more than 1.3 million lives every year across the country. Parliamentarians from various political parties pledged their commitment to amending the COPTA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) 2003 Bill, in order to strengthen existing tobacco control regulations.

Sujeet Kumar, MP, Rajya Sabha said, "The proposed amendments in COTPA is a commendable move and we will try to get more MPs onboard in support of this national campaign."

The proposed amendments include proposals to ban the sale of individual cigarettes, raise the age of sale for tobacco products to 21, regulate in-shop advertising and banning designated smoking areas at hotels/restaurants as well as at airport lounges.

Source; British News Network, 6 August 2022
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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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