Vaping clinic for children begins seeing patients in Liverpool

The same year a group of nine public health directors across Cheshire and Merseyside signed a joint letter, external warning of the rise in vaping in children.

The letter said: “Whilst vapes are sometimes advertised as a risk-free alternative to smoking, we do not yet know the long-term effects of regular vaping.

“In the short-term, using vapes can cause coughing, headaches, dizziness and sore throats.

“Some vapes also contain nicotine, which is incredibly addictive, and is why they should only be used as a tool to stop smoking.”

Professor Rachel Isba, who is leading the vaping service at Alder Hey, told a safety and quality assurance committee last year that more data was needed on the number of children addicted to nicotine.

The meeting heard the hospital trust would need to take a “different policy” on vaping to adult hospital trusts which promoted it as a way to stop smoking.

Prof Isba noted she was aware of complications caused by vapes being used to inhale other substances, including the dangerous synthetic drug spice – which can cause cardiac arrest.

A study by the University of Bath last year found that one in six vapes seized in schools across England contained spice.