Health board extends smoking ban

Jul 30 2008 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

SMOKING will be banned in all of NHS Lanarkshire’s grounds from Friday as part of a new health initiative.

The revised No Smoking Policy will mean people will no longer be allowed to light up anywhere inside NHS Lanarkshire premises or within the grounds, including areas around hospital and health centre entrances and car parks.

Previously, the ban only extended to the inside of buildings and immediately outside.

Stop Smoking advisors will be on hand at Monklands General Hospital when the new ban comes into force to provide advice and support to patients, visitors and staff who smoke.

They will also issue smokers with a red card, which provides information about the new ban and details of NHS Lanarkshire’s Stop Smoking Service.

To help launch the new ban, Hugh Dallas, who dished out plenty of cautions in his career as one of Scotland’s top referees, will again be flashing the red card – this time to cigarettes.

There will also be permanent signs at the entrances of NHS grounds to advise that smoking is banned on the grounds.

Large billboards will be displayed outside the three hospital sites until Thursday, August 21.

In addition, posters will be displayed reminding people of the new policy and of the contact details of the Stop Smoking Service.

The new No Smoking policy demonstrates the commitment of the NHS Lanarkshire board to reducing the harm caused by smoking as one of its key initiatives to improve the health of people of Lanarkshire.

Dr Lesley Armitage, consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: "Smoking is the biggest single preventable cause of ill health and early death in Lanarkshire.

“Around 1580 people in Lanarkshire die annually from active or passive smoking, which is a quarter of all Lanarkshire deaths.

"This revised No Smoking policy is key to tackling this issue and strengthening NHS Lanarkshire's already firm commitment to reducing the serious health risk posed by smoking to patients, members of the public and staff.

“The policy will mean that for the first time there will be no smoking anywhere, inside or outside, on NHS Lanarkshire premises. That’s a big step forward in the fight to tackle what is undoubtedly a major problem for Lanarkshire.”

NHS Lanarkshire re-launched its Stop Smoking Service in May 2008 with the slogan “It works!”.

Its combination of group support and nicotine replacement therapy has been shown to be the most effective way to quit.

Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy and being in a group is four times more effective than going it alone. Finding out about stop smoking groups in your area is as easy as phoning 08452 17 77 07, or texting "Advice" to 81066. You can also visit www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk for more information.

Elspeth Russell, NHS Lanarkshire's Assistant Health Promotion Manager, who manages the service, said: “We hope the ban on all of NHS Lanarkshire’s grounds will provide an extra incentive to kick the habit.

“We understand that smoking is an addiction and giving up can be hard.

“The Stop Smoking Service provides all the support, advice and treatment needed to make it easier and more successful when you try and stop. Even if you’ve tried before, now is the time to give it another go.”

* Mental health inpatients will be exempt from the new policy until August 1, 2009, to allow more time to put the necessary arrangements in place.