New Zealand: a hospital offers electronic cigarettes to its patients

The establishment, specializing in psychiatry, wishes to allow its patients to continue to consume nicotine despite the recent decision to make the hospital non-smoking.

A first in the country

The idea was born in the United Kingdom in 2018. The following year, it was applied in several health establishments. An idea, that of promoting electronic cigarettes in public hospitals, where, unfortunately, the majority of smokers are found during a lifetime of smoking. Now it’s New Zealand’s turn. A few days ago, the District Health Board of Whanganui announced that its health facility would become smoke-free from today. On the other hand, all smoking patients who wish to do so will be offered a vaping kit that they can use as they wish throughout their treatment stay. Caregivers who request it will also be offered an electronic cigarette.

If, for the moment, this novelty is confined to this psychiatric establishment, it sends a strong signal to other hospitals. One that vaping is considered far less dangerous than smoking, and clinics, whose goal is to save lives, can promote it.

The announcement was welcomed by Marewa Glover, Director of Center of Excellence for Research, Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking in New Zealand, speaking for Filter:

“A few people have died after leaving hospital so they could have a cigarette – people who were under observation for suicidal ideation. No one who smokes should have to leave the hospital or observation rooms to get nicotine delivered in an effective and safer form. It’s just barbaric.”

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