The UK government is handing out electronic cigarettes at hospitals to try to help people stop smoking, reports CGTN Europe.

The trial programme provides vaping starter kits to patients after they have visited emergency wards. It is initially being tested at four hospitals in England and Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary in Scotland.
Research has shown that e-cigarettes can help people quit tobacco, according to Caitlin Notley, professor of addiction sciences at the University of East Anglia, who is helping with the trials.
"We know from the latest evidence that e-cigarettes are now the most popular consumer choice for those who are deciding to switch from tobacco smoking. Perhaps a really attractive option because they're not necessarily a medical device so people can go and buy them, they can try different strengths, different types and find something that suits their needs," she told CGTN Europe.
The plan is to reach 1,000 participants, with some being monitored for progress at one-, three- and six-month intervals. If the trial is successful, the UK's National Health Service could regularly provide e-cigarettes, the report said.