Vaping will be allowed on the grounds of Derriford Hospital again

The plans would make Devon’s largest hospital tobacco-free rather than smoke-free, as it is now

Health bosses at Derriford Hospital are to go back on their decision to ban all forms of smoking on its grounds by allowing vaping.

The plans would make Devon’s largest hospital tobacco-free rather than smoke-free, as it is now.

Public Health England (PHE) has said vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking, which contributed to the board of the NHS University Hospitals Plymouth rethinking their original ban.

In 2016 the Trust reviewed the smoke-free site and established two new “Control of Smoking Policies”, one for staff, and one for patients and visitors.

They said that for reasons of etiquette and appearance, the policies treated the use of e-cigarettes in the same way as smoking, and prohibited vaping anywhere on site.

A caveat was that the decision would be reviewed following any introduction of a more prescriptive regulatory framework; further evidence concerning the use of e-cigarettes emerging; or in light of Government guidance or legislation being released.

In 2015, new guidance from Public Health England was released acknowledging that whilst vaping is not risk free, it is 95% less harmful than smoking, and that when supported by a smoking cessation service, helped smokers to quit tobacco altogether.

Signage on the grounds of Derriford will be replaced so that visitors know that they are able to vape, although it will request that people avoid doing so at entrances and bus stops.

A visual border will also be created around the perimeter with cigarette bins and signs, to clearly show where tobacco-free areas begin.

Livewell Southwest, who provide integrated health and social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon, were cited in the discussions as allowing vaping anywhere externally on their sites.

In some instances they also allow vaping inside buildings in areas such as inpatient single rooms.

It was also noted that Livewell Southwest supply disposable e-cigarettes to inpatients alongside nicotine replacement patches as part of their drive to reduce the smoking of tobacco products.

Lipo bags, flame resistant bags used for charging devices such as e-cigarettes and mobile phones, are also supplied to allow the safe charging of devices.

Packs containing a vaping device and a lipo bag are given to all patients who smoke at the point of admission, which costs approximately £5k per annum.

Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at PHE, said: “There is no situation where it would be better for your health to continue smoking rather than switching completely to vaping.

“The sooner you stop smoking completely the better.

“We are alert to the risks and the UK has taken a careful approach to maximise the opportunities that e-cigarettes present to help more smokers quit.”