More than 300 Doncaster smokers handed free vape to help them quit
Over 300 Doncaster smokers received free vape kits through the national Swap to Stop scheme, but the area ranked low in kits per smoker.Summary
New NHS figures show that 320 smokers in Doncaster received free vape kits through the national Swap to Stop scheme in the year to March 2026, which is about one in 110 of the area's estimated 35,600 smokers. This ranks Doncaster 105th out of 148 council areas in England. Nationally, 83,406 people received kits, about one in 60 smokers. Other South Yorkshire areas had different rates: Rotherham distributed 879 kits (one in 35), Barnsley 517 (one in 50), and Sheffield 227 (one in 250). Shane Margereson, founder of Ecigone, noted that the help available varies greatly by location. The Swap to Stop scheme, announced in April 2023, aims to provide vape starter kits and support to nearly one in five smokers in England, with each council designing its own program. Since April, funding has been integrated into the public health grant, ring-fenced for stop smoking services. Margereson emphasized that starter kits are just one part; support includes guidance on usage, nicotine strength, and follow-ups. The NHS supports vaping as a stop-smoking tool, stating it is far less harmful than cigarettes but not for non-smokers.
(Source：Doncaster Free Press)
