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Smoking at main hospital entrance

Posted By Nicol

"Smoking at main hospital entrance"

About: Crosshouse Hospital

(as a staff member),

I am a member of staff and every day that I come to the hospital I always have to go through a tunnel of smoke just to get into the building and it is the same when leaving the building. Also as I don't drive I regularly have to travel home by public transport and the bus stops regularly get used as a smoking shelter so when it is terrible weather I have no choice but to stand outside and get wet with the rain as smoker clog up the bus shelters.

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Responses

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

Submitted on 27/03/2017 at 15:02
Published on Care Opinion at 15:37

Dear Nicol,

It is clearly concerning for you and other staff and we take this issue very seriously. In my response to another concerned staff member, I wrote

“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.

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.

This legislation will not address your issue about the smoking in bus shelters. We have had discussions with local councils and transport providers in relation to this issue, however we will again pursue any opportunities for additional signage and ask that our environmental health officers patrol this area as they can apply fixed penalty notices for the dropping of litter.

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”. This response is true for you (and all staff) with concerns about the issue.

May I extend the same invitation to you, 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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