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Care Opinion

Smoking outside the main entrance

Posted By RESPECTFORTHERULES

"Smoking outside the main entrance"

About: Crosshouse Hospital

(as a staff member),

I am a staff member based in the offices by the main entrance and the smoking is of great concern! The building work started a few weeks ago, and more and more people are congregating outside smoking. I think it's absolutely shocking and disgusting. I have been verbally abused many times when asked them to move, and to be honest I should not have to deal with this on a daily basis. I am concerned for my own health and the health of my colleagues who work in the nearby offices. Why can't more be done about this and stop the smoking on the hospital grounds altogether? More signs could be put up to state - DO NOT SMOKE NEAR THESE OFFICES, or can't the bins be moved away from the main entrance as they also seem to congregate around them? Something needs to be done, and soon before I end up in hospital with ill health to passive smoking!

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Responses

Response from NHS Ayrshire and Arran 7 years ago
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Submitted on 27/03/2017 at 14:58
Published on Care Opinion at 15:37

Dear RESPECTFORTHERULES

Thank you for taking the time to highlight this issue on Patient Opinion. I appreciate this is concerning for you, and the health and wellbeing of our staff is of paramount importance. Despite fair compliance with the smoke free grounds policy when it was first implemented, we have seen the number of breaches from patients and visitors rising in the last few weeks. This has been compounded by the changes to the front of the hospital. The bin has now been removed and more signage will be supplied.

We are awaiting legislation from Scottish Government which will mean that anyone smoking within 15M of a building will be liable to a fixed penalty notice, levied by Environmental Health Officers. This legislation is fairly well progressed and we are expecting further notification soon so that we can start planning any changes to our current signage and plan how we engage with staff and the public on these changes. The local smoke free grounds policy will remain in situ, with the addition of this perimeter legislation.

The policy continues to be overseen by the organisational smoke free grounds policy group. This group is open to all staff who wish to attend and I would be happy to supply you with dates and times if you wish to attend.

If you would like to be involved, please contact me on 01292 885914 (direct line).

Elaine Young

Assistant Director of Public Health

Health Improvement Programmes

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