Wednesday 16 September 2015

Press release: E-cigarettes: an emerging public health consensus

Press release: E-cigarettes: an emerging public health consensus

We all agree that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than smoking. One in 2 lifelong smokers dies from their addiction. All of the evidence suggests that the health risks posed by e-cigarettes are relatively small by comparison but we must continue to study the long term effects.

And yet, millions of smokers have the impression that e-cigarettes are at least as harmful as tobacco and we have a responsibility to provide clear information on the facts as we know them to be. It is our duty to provide reassurance for the 1.1 million e-cigarette users who have completely stopped smoking to prevent their relapse.

To be clear, the public health opportunity is in helping smokers to quit, so we may encourage smokers to try vaping but we certainly encourage vapers to stop smoking tobacco completely.

We know that e-cigarettes are the most popular quitting tool in the country with more than 10 times as many people using them than using local stop smoking services. But, we also know that using local stop smoking services is by far the most effective way to quit.

What we need to do is combine the most popular method with the most effective and that is why we are encouraging those who want to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking to seek the help of their local stop smoking service.

Scientists and health officials at war over safety of e-cigarettes

Scientists and health officials at war over safety of e-cigarettes

A report by Public Health England which advised smokers to begin vaping was flawed and not based on reliable evidence, health experts have warned. Telegraph

NHS is suffering its 'hardest decade ever', warn think-tanks

NHS is suffering its 'hardest decade ever', warn think-tanks

The NHS is suffering its hardest decade since its creation, three leading think-tanks have said, warning that current government spending pledges amount to the lowest 10-year growth rate the health service has ever seen. Nine in 10 hospitals in England are expected to overspend their budgets this year, potentially tipping the sector £2bn into the red. Independent

Rising number of employees reporting mental health issues - The Guardian

Rising number of employees reporting mental health issues - The Guardian

The number of employees speaking up about mental health problems is on the rise. More than two fifths of employers say they have seen an increase in cases reported by staff of conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to research from the ...

Health matters: smoking and quitting in England

Health matters: smoking and quitting in England


This is the first in a series of resources which aims to bring together a range of resources in an easily accessible package that aim to address public health priorities. This document provides information on the prevalence of smoking and evidence for what has been proven to work to promote cessation at local and national level. Public Health England (PHE)
Resource pack
Press release

Changes in health in England, with analysis by English regions and areas of deprivation, 1990 to 2013: a systematic analysis for the Global...

Changes in health in England, with analysis by English regions and areas of deprivation, 1990 to 2013: a systematic analysis for the Global...


This paper estimates of the main causes of death and disability, attributable risk factors and the effect of deprivation, modelled for England and its regions. It finds that sickness and chronic disability are causing a much greater proportion of the burden of disease as people are living longer with several illnesses. The accompanying online tool allows users to see how the disease burden falls over time by English region and deprivation and the relative impact of different diseases and risk factors. Public Health England (PHE)
Report
Online tool
PHE blog

Accessing and sharing health records and patient confidentiality

Accessing and sharing health records and patient confidentiality

This briefing sets out current arrangements for accessing patient records and sharing confidential patient information. NHS Networks

Briefing on legislation and mental health

Briefing on legislation and mental health

Mental health care and services are delivered within a complex legislative framework. There have been changes to this framework in the last 12 months with more revisions proposed. NHS Networks

Banning trans fats could prevent 7,000 deaths from heart disease over next five years, claim experts

Banning trans fats could prevent 7,000 deaths from heart disease over next five years, claim experts

Banning trans fats from food could prevent 7,000 deaths from heart disease over the next five years, experts have claimed. Independent

Biometric wristbands predict outbursts in people with autism

Biometric wristbands predict outbursts in people with autism

Wristbands that measure surface skin temperature and heart rate could transform the lives of people with autism by predicting big behavioural shifts. Telegraph