Front page news today metro

[matt1988]

Yeh I have just read the ECCA reply. The thing they are asking for is to get a study done of people that don't or never have, used an e-cigarette.

So if that's the case, then the current survey being compiled will be just as 'useless'.

However it's not as negative as first appeared, and the NHS isn't the one supplying NRT'S and it's their interest to get people of the smokes by any means (unlike pharma and tobacco companies). All the NHS are asking for is more data.

On the flip side, the only real way to get the data they are asking for is to make it a medicinal product! Which is something we can't afford to happen!

[MarkS]

Apr 13, 2013 7:56:22 GMT matt1988 said:

Yeh I have just read the ECCA reply. The thing they are asking for is to get a study done of people that don't or never have, used an e-cigarette.

So if that's the case, then the current survey being compiled will be just as 'useless'.

However it's not as negative as first appeared, and the NHS isn't the one supplying NRT'S and it's their interest to get people of the smokes by any means (unlike pharma and tobacco companies). All the NHS are asking for is more data.

On the flip side, the only real way to get the data they are asking for is to make it a medicinal product! Which is something we can't afford to happen!

It's something I have said before, although Pharma and Tobacco companies are one of the biggest issues in terms of protecting profits, there is also an element out there who would like to protect their positions that are created by smokers. Do you know who trains Smoking Cessation Advisors? Do you think they are nurses or Dr's? Most of them are nothing more than glorified salesman who have only received training from the very companies that make Patches, Sprays, Gums and drugs linked to suicides. You are right the NHS are not the ones supplying NRT's but those who supply them create quite a few jobs and cosy positions within the NHS by doing so.

Maybe I am too cynical, but I don't see the NHS dissecting stories like that often and something makes me think it wasn't out of the goodness of their hearts in the interests of public health. More like another push for Medical classification as you have also pointed out.

We can only trust this if it's in their hands is the gist and for it to get into their hands it has to go via the route of the Pharma companies who know every trick in the book.

Right I'm off to do a survey on Custard Creams asking only those who eat Hob Nobs to take part!

[Die5el]

Thanks for sharing

[djs]

Apr 13, 2013 2:19:19 GMT MarkS said:

Believe it or not the NHS have actually dedicate a whole page on their website trying to pick the piece in the Metro to pieces.

www.nhs.uk/news/2013/04April/Pages/E-cigarette-vapers-using-them-to-quit-smoking.aspx

Their main argument though seems to be that the figures from this piece cannot be taken seriously because they consulted with people who use electronic cigarettes.

OK, so the war has started?

The war that says, we spend £2.7-3.0 billion treating smokers BUT (however) get £9.5 billion in tobacco taxes. We don't want people switching to e-cigarettes, the government can't afford it.

[deesigner]

Apr 13, 2013 9:34:22 GMT djs said:

Apr 13, 2013 2:19:19 GMT MarkS said:

Believe it or not the NHS have actually dedicate a whole page on their website trying to pick the piece in the Metro to pieces.

www.nhs.uk/news/2013/04April/Pages/E-cigarette-vapers-using-them-to-quit-smoking.aspx

Their main argument though seems to be that the figures from this piece cannot be taken seriously because they consulted with people who use electronic cigarettes.

OK, so the war has started?

The war that says, we spend £2.7-3.0 billion treating smokers BUT (however) get £9.5 billion in tobacco taxes. We don't want people switching to e-cigarettes, the government can't afford it.

I was just going to get to the last post to say more or less the same thing. It's not in the NHS's interests for people to switch to ecigs, yes they're happy to give out free 'smoking cessation' kits! Mmmmm, call me cynical, but I think it has to be a financial thing

[djs]

Apr 13, 2013 13:37:11 GMT deesigner said:

I was just going to get to the last post to say more or less the same thing. It's not in the NHS's interests for people to switch to ecigs, yes they're happy to give out free 'smoking cessation' kits! Mmmmm, call me cynical, but I think it has to be a financial thing

Do we know if the NRT treatments cost the NHS much (the "items") ?

It has crossed my mind that maybe either the Pharma companies sponsor the whole thing, or maybe the NHS only pays a £1 or something per item. Let's face it, the Pharma companies make the patches for 50p (?) and sell them at £15. Maybe the NHS wins by paying almost nothing and the Pharma companies get people "on" patches which they then sell them for a stupid amount.

I'm not anti NHS is any way; but let's face it, Doctors will write a £7 prescription for 90 pence drugs and not tell their patients....it's all part of the deeply non-transparent scheme that makes the world go round.

I'd heard that the quit smoking advisors are just "trained up" everyday people effectively employed by the Pharmaceutical industry to sell the products. Maybe they (the NRT companies) do actually "bill" the NHS the full price?

All speculation really....(and probably wrong...)

[deesigner]

I wouldn't be at all suprised if the NHS don't receive some sort of payment from the pharma companies for handing out their kits, it would make sense from both an advertising point of view and from gving the product some credit.

[MarkS]

Apr 13, 2013 13:59:06 GMT djs said:

Apr 13, 2013 13:37:11 GMT deesigner said:

I was just going to get to the last post to say more or less the same thing. It's not in the NHS's interests for people to switch to ecigs, yes they're happy to give out free 'smoking cessation' kits! Mmmmm, call me cynical, but I think it has to be a financial thing

Do we know if the NRT treatments cost the NHS much (the "items") ?

It has crossed my mind that maybe either the Pharma companies sponsor the whole thing, or maybe the NHS only pays a £1 or something per item. Let's face it, the Pharma companies make the patches for 50p (?) and sell them at £15. Maybe the NHS wins by paying almost nothing and the Pharma companies get people "on" patches which they then sell them for a stupid amount.

I'm not anti NHS is any way; but let's face it, Doctors will write a £7 prescription for 90 pence drugs and not tell their patients....it's all part of the deeply non-transparent scheme that makes the world go round.

I'd heard that the quit smoking advisors are just "trained up" everyday people effectively employed by the Pharmaceutical industry to sell the products. Maybe they (the NRT companies) do actually "bill" the NHS the full price?

All speculation really....(and probably wrong...)

Apr 13, 2013 16:08:18 GMT deesigner said:

I wouldn't be at all suprised if the NHS don't receive some sort of payment from the pharma companies for handing out their kits, it would make sense from both an advertising point of view and from gving the product some credit.

It's the classic anti-drugs information film scenario you used to see at school. You know the one where the dealer initially hands out the drugs for free to get the victim hooked and then once hooked the victim ends up paying hard cash to the dealer to support their habit.

[ausfost]

just a bit of info
According to the BNF (British National Formulary) Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Net prices of NRT treatments:

Nicorette:

Tablets 2mg pack of 2 x15 discs with dispenser £4.46
Gum 2mg pack of 30 £3.41
Mint lozenge 2mg pack of 24 £2.55
Patches 5mg pack of 7 £9.07
Quickmist 1mg dose 2 x 150 spray £18.50

Nicotinell:

Gum 24 pack £3.01
Lozenges pack of 20 £3.18
Patches 7mg pack of 7 £9.97

Champix tablets 28 tablets £27.30

Prices do come down dramatically though if purchased in bulk