Vouchers for e-cigarette starter kits on the NHS could even help die-hard smokers to quit, according to a new study from the University of East Anglia.

Working with GPs and the NHS Smoking Cessation Service, commissioned by Norfolk County Council Public Health, the researchers set up a pilot vaping shop voucher scheme to help patients who have tried and failed to quit smoking in the past.

An evaluation of the scheme, funded by Norfolk County Council, showed it was a huge success - 42% of entrenched smokers were referred and redeemed for their vaping vouchers to quit within a month.

Thanks to the success of the pilot, the scheme has been rolled out in Norfolk, and the team hopes it can be rolled out across the country to help more smokers quit.

Lead researcher and addiction expert Professor Caitlin Notley, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "Research shows that e-cigarettes are an effective way to quit smoking compared to nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum. E-cigarettes are now the most popular way to quit smoking.

"Our previous research has shown that they may be particularly helpful in helping people not only quit smoking, but quit smoking forever."

"We wanted to see if GPs' distribution of vape shop vouchers, as well as support from smoking cessation services, could help smokers quit. We particularly want to target vulnerable and vulnerable smokers who have not been able to quit by other means," she added.

Dr Louise Smith, Director of Public Health for Falk, welcomed the partnership with UEA on this council-led initiative to further develop services to support people in quitting smoking.

The team worked with GPs in Great Yarmouth to help patients with comorbidities who had previously tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking.

About 21% of people living in Great Yarmouth smoke, compared with 14% in the rest of Norfolk and the national average of 15%.

In the pilot program, 668 participants received vape shop vouchers that could be redeemed for an initial starter kit at a local vape shop.

Of those, 340 continued to redeem their vouchers.

In addition to picking up their starter kits, participants were given advice on e-liquid strengths and flavors, and received additional support from Smoke-Free Norfolk.

The research team also interviewed some of the participants, as well as vape shop staff, GPs and staff in Smoke-Free Norfolk, about their experiences.

Professor Notley said: "This innovative approach has brought together NHS local smoking cessation services, e-cigarette retailers and researchers, recognising that other forms of smoking cessation support are not suitable for everyone.

"This program enabled 42% of entrenched smokers who redeemed their vouchers to successfully quit smoking within four weeks. This is especially important as it helps those who have tried many times but failed to quit smoking to stay away from tobacco."

"Overall, the program is popular with smokers as it provides an affordable route to vaping. GPs support the program and appreciate the ability to offer an alternative to entrenched smokers," she added.

The team hopes a similar voucher scheme can be rolled out in the UK to help more people switch from smoking to vaping and reduce the number of people still smoking.

The research was commissioned by Norfolk County Council and led by UEA, which worked with the public health team and local smoking cessation service Smokefree Norfolk.

A pilot scheme for e-cigarette vouchers in rural UK counties was published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research on 19 August.

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