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Friday, 29 September 2017
From 2 October our wards will no longer have designated smoking areas and smoking will not be permitted in any premises and grounds owned by the Trust. This will also apply to visitors and staff.
This is in accordance with the NICE smoking cessation in secondary care, Public Health guidance PH48 (2013) that advocates no smoking in any secondary care premises and grounds, including outside ward gardens and courtyards.
Whilst smokefree initiatives and smoking cessation practices are proven to be beneficial to smokers’ physical and mental health, our Trust acknowledges that this change will have a significant impact on inpatients and staff and therefore we are assisting them to adjust to this change by offering the following:
Vanessa Ford (Director of Nursing and Quality) said:" As a mental health trust it is important we show leadership on health issues such as tackling smoking. We know that smoking is still the main cause of inequalities in life expectancy and quality of life. In addition, smoking rates amongst those hospitalised with a mental health condition can be as high as 70%. Research has shown that smokers with mental health conditions are just as likely as the general population to want to quit smoking and those who managed to quit smoking have shown reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, including possible reduction in dosages of certain medications. We are certain that our completely smokefree policy will provide patients and staff with a healthier environment that supports them with their own personal challenges that this may bring."