'It's sad we have to have a clinic for this, but I do feel I am doing something which is a real problem'

NATIONAL VAPING CLINIC FOR KIDS OPENS AT ALDER HEY AND IS FULLY BOOKED

- By BEN HASLAM ECHO Reporter

THE UK's first vaping clinic for children has opened its doors in Merseyside and has been fully booked for weeks. The clinic, a pilot initiative spearheaded by Professor Rachel Isba, opened to patients in January after funding was approved for research into the need for solutions to under-18s who are addicted to vaping.

Prof Isba, a Consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine, explained to the ECHO how nothing like this has been done before in the UK, and her work has led to conversations with experts from across the globe after she opened the door to children as young as 11. She is now spending four hours every other Tuesday seeing children face-to-face at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The referrals are currently made through the hospital when children are admitted for other reasons, but conversations are under way to extend the referral net to GPs in Cheshire and Merseyside.