AN East Lancashire businessman has criticised the findings of a report from Government health officials which says GPs should be able to prescribe e-cigarettes on the NHS.

Public Health England (PHE) said much of the public wrongly believes that e-cigarettes carry health risks in the same way normal cigarettes do, but this is not the case and it wants to see smokers taking up the electronic devices to reduce the thousands of people dying from tobacco-related diseases every year.

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The report also said that vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco and stated there is no evidence so far to show that e-cigarettes are acting as a route into smoking for children or non-smokers.

While welcoming the majority of the findings, Liam Humberstone, technical director at Blackburn-based Totally Wicked, said e-cigarettes should not be made available on the NHS and should remain a commercial venture.

Mr Humberstone said: “Of course we’re pleased that the findings show our products are 20 times safer to use than cigarettes.

“However, we believe e-cigarettes are a commercial product and should remain so – they should not be prescribed by the NHS.”

The findings of the report have been welcomed by Darwen-based Liberty Flights, with principal scientist Lucy Robins saying she was glad the myths surrounding e-cigarettes were being dispelled.

“We have long championed the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and our customers tell us they have benefited physically and financially,” she said.