"No-smoking ban is not enforced"

About: Crosshouse Hospital Crosshouse Hospital Kilmarnock KA2 0BE

Posted by hunterpunter (as the patient), 6 years ago

The hospital grounds are a non-smoking area yet everytime I visit there are people smoking outside the main building and the grounds are littered with used cigarettes. Therefore it appears the no-smoking policy is not enforced.
I am sick of having to pass smokers everytime I enter and leave the building. The smell is disgusting and patients smoking outside in their pyjamas is not something I wish to see everytime I need to visit the hospital.
This ban has been in place for years, why has it not been enforced?

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smoking ban

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Responses

Eunice Goodwin

Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 15/03/2018 at 16:13

Published on Care Opinion at 16:47

Dear hunterpunter,
I am entirely sympathetic to you and this long-standing hot potato. I was asked to post this on behalf of our Assistant Director of Public Health.
"Thank you for taking the time to highlight this issue on Care Opinion. I appreciate this is concerning for you.
We are awaiting legislation from Scottish Government which will mean that anyone smoking within 15M of a building will be liable to a fixed penalty notice, levied by Environmental Health Officers. This legislation is fairly well progressed and we are expecting further notification soon so that we can start planning any changes to our current signage and plan how we engage with staff and the public on these changes. The local smoke free grounds policy will remain in place, with the addition of this perimeter legislation.
The policy continues to be overseen by the organisational smoke free grounds policy group.
Elaine Young
Assistant Director of Public Health
Health Improvement Programmes"
Best wishes,
Eunice

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Update posted by hunterpunter (the patient) 6 years ago

Thanks for the response,
But fixed penalties won't be of any use unless they are actively enforced. Are there any plans to enforce this and are there designated people to enforce this?

Eunice Goodwin

Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 27/03/2018 at 16:50

Published on Care Opinion at 17:43

Dear hunterpunter,
The enforcers will be the environmental health officers from the local authority and there has been funding agreed for this I believe. I agree, this may prove difficult but the legislation is the legislation and we have to go with it as is. I think, with all new things, we will need to see how it goes. I am sure however well it works, we will hear more on this forum in the future.
Once again, thank you for raising this important point,
Best wishes,
Eunice.

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