Doncaster Hospitals to go ‘Smoke-Free’ from the End of May

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Staff congregate in hospital corridor

With the smoking ban being enforced in the UK in 2007, all enclosed public spaces became a no-go-zone for smokers, which left many of them congregating outside in designated smoking areas. In an attempt to go one step further and for the benefit of their patients, Doncaster hospitals have announced that from 31st May 2019, they will not allow smoking on any of their premises.

According to the Doncaster Free Press, visitors to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital and Montagu Hospital will be challenged by staff and security and given advice on how to quit smoking.

A Time For Change

Cindy Storer, Acting Deputy Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at the Trust, said: “We’re asking for support from the public, our patients and staff in order to go completely smoke-free by the end of this month.

“We know that smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable death, disability and illness, and it is, therefore, appropriate that we keep the hospital site smokefree and ask people not to smoke on site.

“One in two smokers die prematurely due to their smoking and whilst they are in hospital we have support to help them to break their addiction.”

Patient Health

As part of their treatment, patients will be offered nicotine replacement therapy and referred to local stop smoking services. The aim of the ban is to ensure that hospitals are more proactive in urging people to stop smoking and according to research carried out by the Trust, 25% of patients actually expect health professionals to raise the issue of smoking with them.

Many former smokers will advocate for the use of
e-cigarettes and although we reached out to the Trust for more information, it’s unclear as of yet if e-cigs will be allowed on the premises.

BUY STARTER KITS

Given that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than normal cigarettes and severely reduce the number of toxins and carcinogens taken into the body, hopefully, many more
people will be able to quit smoking for good if these are offered as an option to patients.

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