"Smokers outside hospitals main entrances"

I am becoming increasingly fed up with the smokers loitering outside the QEUH main entrance.

Firstly, the passive smoking has a detrimental effect on the overall health of patients, carers and staff entering and leaving the building, most of whom choose not to smoke.

Secondly, an abandoned cigarette outside the main door caused a fire evacuation for multiple clinical areas for almost two hours, two weeks ago. This disrupted a number of outpatient services, meaning clinics were running late or appointments were cancelled. This affects patient care and service efficiency. Further, the story was also picked up by several media outlets, affecting the reputation of the hospital.

Thirdly, the increased footfall of smokers moving in and out the hospital is an infection control issue, particularly as the smokers are typically wearing masks around their necks and actively blowing/ exhaling their breath to the surrounding areas. This is not  preventing the spread of COVID-19.

This issue needs to be appropriately dealt with. The current 'no smoking signs' do not work.  Furthermore, when staff have approached those smoking on hospital grounds they are more often than not met with verbal aggression.

My suggestion is that either the Scottish Government bring in a law to make smoking / vaping illegal on hospital grounds or that designated smoking areas are built away from the front door.  

I should also note this does not only happen outside QEUH. It happens at other hospital sites.