Smoking On Hospital Grounds - Stub It Out Now, Says BMA Cymru Wales

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 03 Apr 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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On the second anniversary of the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in Wales, BMA Cymru Wales is calling for it to now be extended to all hospital grounds.

Currently, some Welsh NHS Trusts operate voluntary codes, which are not enforceable by any laws or fines.

Chair of the BMA's Welsh Council, Dr Andrew Dearden says "The BMA in Wales has campaigned for smoking to be banned on all hospital grounds. In fact, we called on the Assembly Government to change the law to ensure hospitals were included in the smoking ban legislation, which came into effect two years ago today.

"This wasn't done, and now, more than ever, it seems absurd to have smoking outlawed in places such as pubs and restaurants. But in hospital grounds, where people go to be cured of illnesses, it isn't. The very reason people visit hospitals is to increase their chances of getting better, not to potentially have their health threatened, by having to fight their way through clouds of cigarette smoke."

This anomaly's recently been highlighted by North Wales NHS Trust, where security staff reportedly face 3,000 incidents of verbal abuse a year, as they try and enforce a 'zero tolerance' policy smoking on Trust grounds.

BMA Cymru Wales believes if it was actually made against the law to light up around hospitals, much of this abuse could be stamped out.

Dr Dearden adds; "It really is time the Welsh Assembly Government addressed this issue and what better time than now, as we celebrate enclosed public places in Wales being smoke-free for the past two years".

Source
BMA Cymru Wales
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