Roadshows Planned as 'Smoke Free' D-Day approaches
01/02/2006
NHS Trusts in Gloucestershire are gearing up for a ‘smoke free’ future with a series of public roadshows to help promote their plans to ‘lead from the front’ in reducing the harmful effects of smoking.
The events to be held at a number of hospitals across Gloucestershire will include displays, *carbon monoxide monitoring and leaflet distribution together with an opportunity for members of the public and patients to talk to specialist stop smoking advisers.
The details of the events are as follows:
| Date | Venue | Time |
| Wednesday 1st February, 2006 | Cheltenham General Hospital | 10.30am – 4pm |
| Thursday 9th February, 2006 | Tewkesbury Hospital | 10.30am – 4pm |
| Monday 13th February, 2006 | Winchcombe Hospital | 1pm – 3.30pm |
| Wednesday 15th February, 2006 | Gloucestershire Royal Hospital | 10.30am – 4pm |
| Monday 27th February, 2006 | Lydney and District Hospital | 11.00am – 3pm |
| Tuesday 28th February, 2006 | Stroud General Hospital | 10.30am – 4pm |
(N.B. A ‘Roadshow’ event was also held at Cirencester Hospital on 26 th January).
This year’s No Smoking Day on March 8 marks the launch of all NHS Trusts in Gloucestershire becoming smoke free.
The NHS locally will be using a variety of ways to communicate the message to its workforce, patients and visitors to ensure the policy is successfully implemented from this date.
The local commitment to a smoke free NHS is supported by the Public Health White Paper ‘Choosing Health’ published in November 2004. This announced the health target of making the NHS (and other Government Departments) smoke-free by the end of 2006.
A smoke free Gloucestershire NHS means that smoking will not be permitted in any buildings or the grounds. Smoking outside hospital building entrances will no longer be allowed and smoking rooms and shelters will be removed.
Director of Public Health at Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT Dr Shona Arora said:
“Making the entire Gloucestershire NHS estate smoke free sends a clear message to all about how important smoking is as a cause of ill health.
We have to lead the way in promoting a smoke free environment for staff, patients and visitors in order to provide a consistent message about the harms of smoking and passive smoking.”
She added:
“An integral part of the policy will be to provide support to people who wish to give up smoking or help to reduce their cravings.”
Director of Clinical Strategy at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Sally Pearson said:
“This positive move reflects the unique responsibility the NHS has to act decisively and demonstrate leadership on the issue of where smoking is permitted.
As the largest employer in the country, the NHS has a duty to protect the health and well being of staff as well as patients from the hazards of passive smoking, and to demonstrate the highest conduct to other employers. It also has a duty to promote the health benefits of not smoking.”
Support can be accessed via GP surgeries, Pharmacies and the Gloucestershire Smoking Advisory Service (Tel: 01452 429345).
For staff or patients who do not want to stop smoking or find it too difficult to go without cigarettes while on NHS premises, Nicotene Replacement Therapy (NRT) offers a much less harmful form of nicotine delivery than cigarettes and can be used to reduce withdrawal effects.
Staff may smoke during their permitted work breaks as long as this is outside the boundary of the NHS site. In-patients who wish to smoke will be offered NRT if appropriate to help curb their cravings. They too will need to leave the NHS site to smoke a cigarette, after discussing their wishes with nursing staff.
