Stubbing it out

Chief Executive, Jeremy Clough explains the new policy to Mike Laycock.

NOT so long ago, smokers in hospital could go to an area of their ward and simply light up. Patients opening the door of a smoking area could be greeted by the sort of fug you might expect in the Rovers Return.

Most hospitals in Britain have now scrapped smoking areas. But this October, Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) will take the process a step further by making all its buildings - and increasingly its grounds as well - smoke-free zones.

Chief Executive, Jeremy Clough, says the Trust wants to lead the way in driving home the message about the risks posed by smoking.

But, aware of the dangers of passive smoking, it also wants to make its hospitals, health centres and offices safe places for both staff and patients.

Work is also taking place for the no smoking policy to be extended to the grounds of PCT buildings, so that visitors will no longer have to pass people hanging around the entrance doors and smoking.

The new policy will apply directly to all PCT premises including the Selby War Memorial Hospital, St Monica's Hospital in Easingwold and the NHS Walk-in Centre in Monkgate, York.

But the PCT will also be encouraging other partner organisations in the area, to follow suit with their own policies to make their premises smoke-free.

Mr Clough stresses that the PCT will be adopting a supportive rather than a draconian approach. "Advice and support will be available to patients and staff," he said.

"We will be consulting in depth with both staff and patients groups between now and October about how the policy should be introduced and applied."

Signs would be posted to ensure patients and staff were fully aware of the new restrictions.

He said there would be no blanket exemptions to the policy, but there would be some "case-by-case" exemptions - for example for long-stay patients in mental health services with restricted opportunities to go outside.

Updated: 12:57 Monday, May 09, 2005