Chris Steele (doctor)

Chris Steele MBE is a British medical doctor, and the resident doctor on ITV's This Morning daytime magazine show, where he has appeared weekly since the show first aired in 1988.[1]

Dr Chris Steele
MBE
Born (1942-08-29) 29 August 1942
Wallsend, Northumberland[lower-alpha 1], England
NationalityBritish
OccupationMedical doctor
Known forTV doctor for 30 years, also known for his extensive work in smoking cessation

Work on nicotine addiction

Steele became interested in treating his patients who smoked in the early 1970s and is now recognised as an international expert in smoking cessation and nicotine addiction. He has lectured on this subject in over 27 countries around the world, making many media appearances.

Fight to have nicotine gum prescriptions paid by NHS

In 1984, he was faced with a dilemma regarding the prescribing of nicotine gum (Nicorette) for smokers who wanted help in giving up their cigarettes. At that time in the UK, nicotine gum was a prescription only medicine (POM). It was in fact the only POM amongst thousands that could not be prescribed at NHS expense; in other words, it was not reimbursable under the socialised medicine system that was in effect at that time in the UK.

A Department of Health committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances, recommended that Nicorette should not be allowed on NHS prescription, because it decreed that "Anti smoking preparations are not regarded as drugs." Dr Steele regarded that nicotine was most certainly a drug and a powerful one at that, and so prescribed nicotine gum on NHS prescriptions for those motivated smokers who wanted to give up smoking. As a result of "breaking the rules", Steele faced various disciplinary hearings, eventually having to present his case to a Tribunal of Independent Referees.

At that tribunal a statement for the Secretary of State for Health read as follows: "Smoking is a habit it is not a disease or condition even though It may be a contributary cause of, or may aggravate, a disease or condition such as bronchitis, carcinoma of the lung, arteriosclerosis and so on." The tribunal's conclusions to "Is tobacco dependency a disease?", dated 6 July 1984, which Steele's supporters regarded as a vindication, were as follows:

  • "We find it ought to be so considered."
  • "We find that nicotine prescribed for this purpose has both a pharmacological and a therapeutic effect."
  • "We find that this method of treatment is the most effective that has so far been evolved."

Honours

In April 2010, Steele was awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to the medical profession and broadcasting.[2]

Work on ITVs This Morning

Steele has appeared on ITV's daytime magazine show This Morning since its first episode in 1988 and has remained the resident health expert since then. He is now the only original, longest serving member of the This Morning team.

Family

Dr Steele's son, Andrew Steele, is an international athlete competing in the 400 m for Great Britain.

Notes
  1. Wallsend has been part of Tyne and Wear since 1974
gollark: And real life deals with it by dying or getting cancer half the time.
gollark: Error correcting codes are more flexible, though.
gollark: Or just use regular ECC stuff.
gollark: "yes, I have my computer backed up to a bunch of amoebas in this tank here, how about you?"
gollark: Unless you want backup copies, I suppose.

References
  1. "Presenters & Experts: Dr Chris Steele". This Morning @ ITV. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  2. Britton, Paul (18 April 2010). "TV's Dr Chris gets an MBE". Manchester Evening News.


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