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Smoking shelters to return to East Lancashire hospitals (From Blackburn Citizen)
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Smoking shelters to return to East Lancashire hospitals
9:39am Thursday 24th July 2008
SMOKING shelters are set to be rebuilt at East Lancashire’s hospitals, less than three years after they were torn down.
Smoking was banned in all East Lancashire Hospitals Trust’s buildings and grounds in December 2005, but new chief executive Marie Burn-ham is set to apply to local councils to have them reinstated.
It is hoped the move will free the entrances of both the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital from the crowds of smokers who regularly gather there, flouting the ban.
The decision is also in response to patient opinion surveys, which showed that many wanted somewhere to smoke while in hospital, despite the health risks.
The trust could not confirm how many shelters were planned, or how much they would cost, but a spokesman said work would be done to ensure they were placed sensitively around the hospital grounds.
Miss Burnham, who took on the role of chief executive just three weeks ago, said: “We hope that this will help keep the entrances clean and smoke-free as there will no longer be any excuse for patients who smoke to stand in entrances when they have a dedicated place to go.”
Anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) gave her decision a cautious thumbs-up, but urged the hospital to continually review the situation.
Spokesman Amanda Sand-ford said: “Crowds of people smoking in a doorway can be very off-putting for the patients, visitors and staff who have to walk through the fumes and a situation like that is totally inappropriate for a hospital.
“Although it is regrettable that they feel they have to take this step, we understand how addictive smoking is and the difficulty for long-term pati-ents who smoke, as well as the high stress for people visiting relatives.
“We understand the concerns of the management, but urge them to keep the policy under review.”
Blackburn with Darwen’s health scrutiny committee chairman Roy Davies also welcomed the change.
He said: “People who smoke will always find somewhere to have a cigarette so why not control it and then you have some chance of enforcing the ban everywhere else on the grounds?
“If a patient who has smoked all their lives is dying and a cigarette is their only solace, where is the harm?”
The right decision? Add your comments below.
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Your Say YourCitizen
BarneyBear, Manchester says...
6:16pm Thu 24 Jul 08
www.freedom2choose.i
nfo - A PRO-CHOICE Organisation
Spanner, Channel Isles says...
6:24pm Thu 24 Jul 08
Ms. Burnham is very wise to bin the authoritarian policies of many NHS hospitals which go against their own staff surveys that 52% are against a ban from grounds. When 1 in 4 adults are smokers it's nothing short of a farce to see staff and patients file outside for a ciggy (so put smoking rooms inside - it's called 'meeting staff and patient needs').
Ms. Burnhm is not so wise to raise the risks of smoking which as she should know are something like 40 in 100,000 lifetime risk. Indeed 'Smokers Live Longest' as evidenced by Britains oldest man, Henry Allingham, 112 last month and the oldest person that's ever lived, Madame Jeanne Claument who lived pass 121 and enjoyed strong French cigarettes (her Doctor tried to get her to give up at 117 without success).
The 40 in 100,000 risk contrasts with the 1 in 300 risk of contracting an illness or disease from an NHS hospital. So an NHS hospital can damage your health in days while smoking 40 a day for decades carries a lifetime risk below 1%.
As for passive smoking it's 12.5 in 100,000 or 10 in 100,000 if you live or work with a non-smoker (ie. statistically microscopic). Smoking on a ward carries no health risks whatsoever. Fact.
The sooner these creeps who politicise health are bannished from setting policy the sooner the NHS can deal with real health dangers with high risks like the NHS hospitals themselves.
Para Handy, Blackburn says...
2:10am Fri 25 Jul 08
I agree with Spanner, an inside room would be desirable.
Lyn Smokes, Worcestershire says...
10:43am Fri 25 Jul 08
It is unfortunate, however, that patients, whatever their situation, but particularly those just waiting to die, should be dragged outside in all weathers, whether or not to a smoking shelter that is less than useless against the elements, to indulge in what is possibly the one pleasure left to them.
I congratulate Miss Burnham on making a start to turn around this draconian nonsense, but hope to see things improve further in the near future.
Well said too, BarneyBear - in order for smokers to give up they have to WANT to give up, not be badgered into giving, that will never work.
SalsaJo, Rayleigh says...
8:21pm Fri 25 Jul 08
SalsaJo
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A Darener, Darwen says...
11:00am Thu 24 Jul 08
As an ex smoker I now realise what a fool I was to have smoked, it was not good for my health, my families health (passive smoking), my wallet, etc. If health Authorities are encouraging people to continue smoking what chance have we got to persuade smokers to stop.