"Smoking"

Dear Sir/Madam

I appreciate you taking the time to write and comment on this issue and acknowledge the nuisance and unpleasant environment this can create for patients and visitors attending the hospital.

The management of smoking on the hospital grounds is a delicate matter and while the Trust endeavours to deliver a message that is resolute in support of the Stop Smoking campaign we have to accept that individuals found to be smoking on our premises are often patients and visitors who are already very ill and/or distressed and for whom the unwise choice to smoke is their personal liberty.

The Trust does actively seek to prevent smoking on its premises by challenging those who smoke, however it is not against the law to smoke outside and at times the Policy is difficult to enforce.

I can confirm that our security staff do patrol the site regularly and endeavour to move people away from the Main Entrance and we are working on ways to make ensure that this is more successful.

Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry that you have had such an unpleasant experience.

King Regards

Genevieve Ojadi

Patient Liaison Manager