February 3, 2009
NHSG/11/09
Smoke-free – NHS Grampian Consultation
NHS Grampian is progressing towards establishing a smoke-free environment for all its buildings and grounds, with a wide-ranging consultation.
NHS Grampian Tobacco policy (2006) aimed to ensure that all NHS Grampian premises became smoke-free within a very few years. This policy and the draft NHS Grampian Tobacco policy (2009) have been developed and agreed in partnership with union representatives.
Smoking has already been prohibited inside the hospital buildings. This consultation will focus on how, not whether, the Tobacco policy will be implemented. It will include visitors, patients, staff, Community Councils, local groups, and members of the general public.
The consultation will contribute to the achievement of the original policy objectives, by extending the ban to include all NHS Grampian grounds.
Derek Petrie, Tobacco Control Co-ordinator explains:
“NHS Grampian’s aim is to improve the health of everyone in the North East – tobacco smoking is an addictive habit, which causes disability, disease and death, and represents the single largest preventable cause of ill health and mortality in Scotland. Tobacco smoke in the environment is now also proven to be a cause of ill health and death for non-smokers. NHS Grampian has a responsibility under British and European employment legislation to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
“Our consultation will welcome suggestions on how NHS Grampian can raise awareness of the revised Tobacco policy, any potential problems in implementing the smoking ban, and which measures we can use to help smokers follow the policy.”
Consultation Methods
Public Consultation:
A consultation paper and questionnaire have been produced, highlighting the main points of the revised Tobacco policy.
The paper and questionnaire will be distributed widely and will be on the NHS Grampian website
Interviews will be carried out, using the same questionnaire, with patients and visitors on a variety of NHS Grampian sites around Grampian.
Staff Consultation:
A full range of internal communication methods will be used to inform and involve staff and staff representatives in the consultation.
Consultation Questions
Questions will be used to gain opinions on the main areas of consultation that people can influence – awareness, implementation and enforcement. The process will also enable NHS Grampian to gather feedback on the awareness of support services and views on the introduction of a smoke-free environment.
Employee Director Gordon Stephen said:
“The consultation will conclude on March 31, 2009, then we will evaluate everyone’s views and recommendations. We are committed to implementing this policy, for the sake of the health of everyone who comes to our sites. The more people who contribute to the consultation, the better informed we will be on how to best establish a smoke-free environment.”
The draft Tobacco Policy (2009) recognises that, in exceptional circumstances, it may not be appropriate for staff to ask some distressed patients or visitors not to smoke. Efforts should be made to ensure that the smoking does not present a risk to others.
Contrary to some media reports, NHS Grampian’s draft Tobacco Policy (2009) does not involve on-the-spot fines – NHS Grampian is not empowered to issue such fines.
ENDS
The NHS Grampian Smoking Advice Service, freephone 0500 600 332, provides help to stop smoking.
For further information, please contact NHS Grampian Corporate Communications, on 01224 554400.
NHS Grampian
Corporate Communications Department
Ashgrove House
Foresterhill
AberdeenAB25 2ZA
01224 554400