"First Impressions are SO important"

Between my quarterly visits for Orthopaedic checkups after a total hip replacement and

X Rays periodically, I have attended Hereford Hospital on many occasions over the last few years and have always admired the medical, surgical and nursing teams for their knowledge, empathy, skill and care, however, a very basic issue that must be addressed is the fact that patients and their families are seemingly allowed to stand right at the front entrance to the hospital, smoking!!

As an ex smoker I can understand that it is a very difficult habit to break, but I was absolutely disgusted during my most recent visit, to see a group of 4 people, including a patient in a wheelchair with a canular in her hand, smoke 2 cigarettes each and then throw the butts on the floor.

Everyone attending the hospital had to walk around these people to get into the building.

I felt the need to mention it to the receptionist who asked someone to come to talk to me. This happened and while we were talking, the smokers came into the building, all reeking of smoke. They also walked past all of the Hygienic Hand Gel equipment without using them. After this had occurred, another group of people, with a patient complete with a drip stand, took up their places outside the entrance and did the same thing!!

Whether these 2 groups of people were in fact spoken to, I don't actually know, but I am sure that I don't need to point out that this behaviour should be stopped and there should be a "smoking area" provided with ash bins.

Behaviour such as this should be discouraged and monitored, with signs forbidding smoking in certain areas.

On arriving home, switching on the News later, a Hospital featured that had just addressed this very same crucial issue successfully.

Please strive to give your larger community a better impression of Hereford Hospital Trust.