Politicians asked to support smoke-free campaign

Rochdale Infirmary

MPs and elected members of councils are being asked to put their political weight behind supporting The Pennine Acute Trust’s campaign for a change in law to make its hospitals and grounds fully non-smoking areas.

The Trust has a smoke free environment policy which does not permit smoking within any Trust building or premises; this includes car parks, grounds and entrances.

The entrances to the Trust’s four main hospitals, including The Rochdale Infirmary, The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, and Fairfield General Hospital, are regularly surrounded by patients and visitors smoking in all weathers.

The issue of smoking at hospital, by patients and visitors, is a problem experienced by all hospital trusts across the country. Now Pennine Acute Trust is to tackle the problem in efforts to improve public health and following complaints from staff, patients and visitors about the impact of smoking outside hospital entrances, particularly the inconvenience and the distress caused when people have to pass through a smoke filled environment to enter or exit a building.

Last week, the Trust Board at its January meeting agreed to the creation and enforcement of new non-smoking exclusion zones outside its hospital entrances.

These areas will be clearly marked by diagonal red surface lines (hatched markings). This will be supported by a publicity and staff awareness campaign, to be launched on national no-smoking day on 9 March 2011, to educate people about its no-smoking policy and the health dangers of smoking not only to them, but to other patients, visitors and staff.

One of the options considered by the Trust Board included building designated smoking shelters at the cost of £86,000. However, this idea has been discounted.

John Saxby, chief executive of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“While the national smoking ban inside buildings is widely understood and adhered to, it is incredibly difficult to enforce the policy of no smoking in the grounds of the hospital. We certainly do not wish to place our staff at risk of potential abuse or injury when talking the very emotive issue of people smoking at hospital entrances or in hospital grounds.

“We wish to go one step further and lobby parliament for a change in the law to extend the current no-smoking legislation to include hospital grounds. The success of the national smoking ban within public buildings clearly demonstrates that firm and decisive action, backed by legislation, can lead to a significant change in behaviour, habits and culture. I am asking our local politicians to support us in lobbying parliament for this change in legislation. We have a clear duty to take every
opportunity to reduce smoking related illness and the toll this has not only on the individuals, but the NHS as a whole.”

Data shows that up to 35% of patients who attend the Trust’s four main hospitals have some form of smoking related illness.

Dr Sally Bradley, deputy medical director at The Pennine Acute Trust (pictured), added: “Our aim is to promote a pleasant and healthy environment for everyone in the Trust across all our hospitals. This includes patients, visitors and staff. As well as helping make our hospitals a cleaner and safer environment, the benefits of quitting smoking includes reducing the risk of developing illness or death caused by cancer, heart or lung disease. It also protects the health of those around you by not exposing them to second-hand smoke.

“Smoking at hospital entrances is not only unsightly and unpleasant for people who have to walk through a cloud of smoke to gain access to our hospitals, but it is causing increased litter and is a serious fire risk and health hazard.”

A letter from John Saxby of The Pennine Acute Trust has been sent to all local MPs, Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Find your nearest NHS Stop Smoking Service or go online at www.smokefree.nhs.uk or call 0800 022 4332.