A new study from Brunel University London suggests that encouraging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes could help save the UK’s National Health Care System (NHS) up to £500 million a year. The research team said that although the harmful effects of tobacco smoking were well understood, smoking was still a huge burden on NHS resources.
Despite extensive knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco smoking, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in England. Current statistics show that:
Smoking causes about 74,600 deaths a year in England
In 2020, smoking in England was responsible for an estimated 506,100 smoking-related hospital admissions in the NHS
Overall, experts say the burden on the UK’s national health care system costs £2.5 billion a year. The government said it was “determined to reduce this spending” while continuing to state its aim to make England a “smoke-free” country by 2030.
Professor Francesco Moscone, an expert in business economics at Brunel University London, conducted the study to assess the potential savings to the NHS if some smokers in England switched to e-cigarettes. “Cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the five main categories of disease caused by smoking. These diseases place a significant burden on the NHS and we know that the NHS is already under increasing pressure. While the long-term effects of RRP (heated tobacco systems) are unclear, we know from previous studies that alternatives to traditional cigarettes can reduce exposure to important components of health risk by 90 percent.”
In the study, published in the British Journal of Medical Management, Professor Moskohne calculated that switching to e-cigarettes would reduce smoking-related illnesses by 70 per cent, based on the assumption that they would no longer be exposed to the harmful chemicals of smoking.
Professor Francesco Moskone added: “In a 50% conversion scenario, if half of all smokers switched to RRP, the NHS would save around £518 million a year. If conversion rates were just 10 per cent, the NHS would save £103m. If smokers switch to RRP, it will significantly reduce pressure on the NHS, providing much-needed hospital resources for other treatments.”
The study also highlights that the impact will have a geographical dimension, as areas like the North East and Yorkshire have almost twice as many lung cancer patients as the rest of England.
The professor demonstrated that smoking-related challenges in the North East and Yorkshire cost more than £156 million a year, so encouraging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes would benefit the most.
He concluded: “If 10 per cent of smokers in the North East and Yorkshire region switched to RRP, the total NHS spending savings would be £30m. If half the smokers in the area switched to RRP, the NHS would save £148m. Embracing the shift to [vapes]will not only save the NHS millions of pounds, but will also provide a key opportunity for us to regain momentum and align with our ambitious 2030 plans.” By embracing innovation and recognizing the potential of RRP, we can chart a future direction that reduces risk while firmly achieving our goals.” Last year, it was reported that the government would be “at least seven years late” in reaching the 2030 target unless urgent action was taken, and that some social groups would not reach the target until 2044.
References:
【1】Vaping Could Save NHS £500m