Category: Louise Ross

Louise Ross: Pragmatism versus dogma: freeing the inner vaper in smokers – Michael Russell Oration 2020

The highlight of this year’s Global Forum on Nicotine will be the Michael Russell Oration given by the superb Louise Ross on 11 June 2020.  Louise has kindly given permission to reproduce the text of her oration on this blog. This joins the collection of outstanding writing by Louise we host here on the Counterfactual.

My reaction on Twitter…

So here it is, the tex as given… and if you prefer, please see video below. Continue reading “Louise Ross: Pragmatism versus dogma: freeing the inner vaper in smokers – Michael Russell Oration 2020”

What are the vaping research priorities? Have your say…

Vaping: what do we need to know?

In a hurry? Quick link to the vaping research priorities survey.

Guest blog by Louise Ross Continue reading “What are the vaping research priorities? Have your say…”

Looking back, but forwards too – guest posting by Louise Ross

Out there, on your side – Louise Ross puts the public back into public health

As she retires a hero to many in the field of tobacco harm reduction and public health, Louise Ross has penned this blog, which starts below… Continue reading “Looking back, but forwards too – guest posting by Louise Ross”

Louise Ross: E-cigarette samples – a legitimate way of helping people to switch?

switch

Guest post from Louise Ross,  Manager of the Leicester e-cig friendly Stop Smoking Service. (@grannylouisa)

Faced with a patient who has had a cancer diagnosis, who smokes but rejects any attempt to discuss stopping smoking, what should a stop smoking advisor do? Continue reading “Louise Ross: E-cigarette samples – a legitimate way of helping people to switch?”

Beyond the Quit: what happens when e-cigs go wrong? – Louise Ross

Foxys Vape Bar
Meet people where they are or want to be

Guest post by Louise Ross, Service Manager at Leicester City Stop Smoking Service – the pioneering e-cig friendly service for smokers who want to quit.  Louise explains how her service is teaming up with a vape bar and vaper to give practical help to smokers as they master vaping as an alternative to smoking. This is real public health to me – and I hope the public health establishment is paying attention and reflecting carefully on what is happening here.

Louise starts here… Continue reading “Beyond the Quit: what happens when e-cigs go wrong? – Louise Ross”

When horror pictures top-trump evidence: a lose-lose situation

Louise Ross, head of the Leicester Stop Smoking Services, took part in a debate on e-cigarette in front of an audience of respiratory nurses.  It didn’t go well.

In this guest blog, Louise describes her experience debating e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction with a consultant in respiratory medicine apparently prepared to say anything to rubbish e-cigarettes.

Her account starts here:

Continue reading “When horror pictures top-trump evidence: a lose-lose situation”

Louise Ross: Scaremongering about e-cigarettes is not in the best interests of patients

SSS decline
Falling footfall: are Stop Smoking Services staying relevant and responsive to the changing landscape?

This is a guest posting by Louise Ross, Manager of the Stop Smoking Services for Leicester City Council reproducing her recent article in the Pharmaceutical Journal. The graphic above is mine.

Continue reading “Louise Ross: Scaremongering about e-cigarettes is not in the best interests of patients”

Louise Ross: what does ‘ecig-friendly’ really mean?

ecigquitting
“work with them, listen to them, encourage them, and respect them”

In this guest blog, Louise Ross – a pioneer of applied tobacco harm reduction – asks what it means to run e-cig friendly support services for smokers.  Update 4 September 2015: French language article about Louise and translation of this blog on Vapoliique: Stop-tabac de Leicester (UK): l’expérience ecig friendly Continue reading “Louise Ross: what does ‘ecig-friendly’ really mean?”

Louise Ross: why shouldn’t people with poor mental health have the same opportunities as everyone else?

No vaping allowed
Does this give people with poor mental health the same opportunities as everyone else?

A new guest blog from Louise Ross, Leicester Stop Smoking Service Manager, showing the way with humanity, empathy and humility (previous posts: Let there be light! and Who’s health are we talking about?).  Her new guest blog starts now:

Continue reading “Louise Ross: why shouldn’t people with poor mental health have the same opportunities as everyone else?”

Guest blog by Louise Ross: Whose health are we talking about?

Intro by Clive Bates. You may remember Louise Ross’s brilliant first outing on this blog: Let there be light!. Louise runs the NHS Stop Smoking Service in Leicester and she was full of optimism for the potential of vaping to help smokers quit smoking.   She has carried on the mission and inspired and enthused many others.  But here, in a new guest blog,  she explains her anger and ‘speechless sadness’ at the damage caused by WHO when it published its report on ‘Electronic Nicotine delivery Systems’ (e-cigarettes) in August – criticised in full in my detailed report and letter to COP6 delegates.

The good thing is that Louise has renewed determination. She is an example to us all… and the truth will eventually prevail.

Louise Ross’s guest blog starts here… 

photo for article
Determined…
Continue reading “Guest blog by Louise Ross: Whose health are we talking about?”