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Smoking at the door of the hospital

Posted By Missie Jupe

"Smoking at the door of the hospital"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Outpatients

(as the patient),

Why have signs around the campus which say this is a smoke-free area only to be met by a gauntlet of smokers (patients too I might add) at the entrance of the hospital. It beggars belief. If it compromises a smoker’s “rights” then I feel there should be a designated area where they can go and smoke instead of compromising those coming into the hospital. 

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 4 days ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 03/07/2025 at 10:28
Published on Care Opinion at 10:28

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Missie Jupe

Thank you for your feedback regarding smoking on hospital grounds. We completely understand your frustration and share your concerns about the impact this has on patients, visitors, and staff entering the hospital.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has a Smoke Free Policy which does not allow smoking on hospital grounds. This applies to all staff, patients and visitors. In September 2022, it became an offence for anyone to smoke within 15 metres of all hospital buildings in Scotland. Local Authority colleagues who can issue fixed penalties and fines for anyone found to be smoking within the 15-metre boundary.

We recognise there are a number of challenges across all hospital sites, and we work in partnership with our Local Authority colleagues to ensure adequate and correct enforcement of the law. However, despite clear signage throughout each hospital, smoke detectors on some of our sites, and the enforcement through fixed penalty notices, where applicable, we have not been able to fully prevent smoking on hospital grounds, as you indeed witnessed.

I hope you will be reassured that we share your concerns and will continue to explore actions to manage the very difficult issue of smoking on our hospital sites.

Thank you

Nicole

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