Strict no smoking zones installed at hospitals

Strict no smoking zones installed at hospitals

Hospitals within the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are creating no smoking zones immediately outside their main entrances and A&E departments.

The Trust runs the Rochdale Infirmary, the Fairfield General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and the North Manchester General Hospital.

To coincide with national no smoking day today (Wednesday 9 March), Fairfield General Hospital in Bury has had red hatched areas bearing the words ‘Smoking is strictly prohibited in this red zone,’ painted onto the ground outside its front doors.

Following complaints from staff, patients and visitors, about the impact of people 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, the Trust agreed to create the exclusion zones in an effort to improve public health.

MPs and elected members of councils have also been asked to put their political weight behind supporting the Trust’s campaign for a change in law to make its hospitals and grounds fully non-smoking areas.

There is already a smoke free environment policy in place at the Trust which does not permit smoking within any Trust building or premises including car parks, grounds and entrances.

A publicity and staff awareness campaign has also been to educate people about the no-smoking policy and the health dangers of smoking not only to them, but to other patients, visitors and staff.

Dr Sally Bradley, deputy medical director at The Pennine Acute Trust, said:
“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.”