Shame Of Royal Hospital's Front Door Smokers, UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 19 Dec 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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The medical director of the Royal Liverpool Hospital described the amount of smokers who loiter at its entrance as "terrible" last night.

Peter Williams added patients have verbally abused him and his colleagues when trying to move smokers on.

His comments at a health and wellbeing scrutiny committee meeting followed criticism by its chairman, Cllr Ron Gould, who expressed his disbelief that a hospital should experience such problems.

Cllr Gould said: "It is 2007, nearly 2008 and coming up to Capital of Culture. We have got the major A&E department at the Royal with people smoking outside, whilst there is a smoking ban that people respect in football grounds and pubs, notorious for misbehaviour.

"Why can't you stop people smoking outside the doors? It is unbelievable."

Dr Williams, divisional director of medicine at the hospital replied: "I completely agree with you... a lot of the clientele are drug users or have alcohol problems, you feel you can't be too hard on them - they are still your patients. But I think we are too soft on them... it is terrible.

"It really is one of the most unattractive features."

Mr Williams added that the level of abuse he has received when trying to move on smokers is "astonishing".

Director of Communications at the Royal, Mike Barker, added the hospital is looking into the issue and is in the process of fitting new double doors, to stop smoke entering the building.

http://www.ash.org.uk

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