'Transition needed' over NHS trust smoking ban

A hospital trust has said it needs to "not be draconian" over a new smoking ban.

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust became smoke-free on 1 April, with smoking not permitted anywhere at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford County Hospital.

But chief executive Dr Simon Constable told a board meeting he acknowledged people were still smoking on hospital grounds, and the trust would monitor it in the coming weeks and adjust the organisation's approach accordingly.

The trust continued to allow vaping in designated areas, "as a tool to assist smokers in weaning themselves off tobacco", he said.

Constable stated they were aiming for "a soft landing".

"I think if we were going to do this right we needed to do it gently and with a transition, and not be draconian about it."

The chief executive also said: "It's fair to say that people are continuing to smoke on-site but that is reducing, and we're working on that."

The smoking ban was a "clear signal" of the trust's commitment to creating a healthier environment for patients, staff and visitors, he stated.

It is offering staff looking to quit smoking access to free, confidential support through its tobacco dependency team.

Constable added: "I want to thank everyone for the understanding and kindness I know will be shown to one another, to patients and to visitors as we embed this change.

"By working together, we can make this a positive step forward and create a healthier, cleaner and more welcoming environment for everyone who comes onto our sites."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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