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Care Opinion

Smoking at RHC playground

Posted By Mum26

"Smoking at RHC playground"

About: Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow)

(as a parent/guardian),

My wee one has respiratory issues and I am unable to take him to the RHC playground between treatments due to the constant presence of smokers and the effect this has on his health and well being.

I was so hopeful when the law was changed to make smoking within 15m of hospitals illegal and liable to fines.  However I was so disappointed to see that people were smoking at the children's hospital bike shed and covered areas at the playground. This went unchallenged by hospital staff.

This was the ideal opportunity for the health board and RHC management to make a positive change for families like me (and the wider community).

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Responses

Response from Janis Young, Site Facilities Manager (Business), Facilities, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde nearly 2 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Janis Young
Site Facilities Manager (Business), Facilities,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Help with facilities services

Submitted on 13/09/2022 at 17:20
Published on Care Opinion at 18:31

picture of Janis Young

Hi Mum26

I'm sorry that you and your little one have experienced people smoking on the campus and that this is stopping you from taking them out to play.

The Scottish Government introduced this new law on Monday 5th September 2022 and the Facilities team are waiting on official promotional and advertising materials being delivered which will raise awareness of this new law. These will go up in a number of areas as soon as they are received.

We have identified a number of hot spots where smokers congregate, and the advertisements will go up in these areas - the RHC playpark being one of these. In the meantime our facilities managers carry out daily checks and try their best to encourage smokers to move on and advise them of the new rules, but unfortunately this does not go down well with some people and the staff can be subjected to verbal abuse.

We also have 2 Police Scotland officers who are based on the campus and regularly go out and patrol the grounds, re-enforcing the new rules, so I am hopeful that over time, there will be a change to people's attitudes and there will be a smoke free environment across the site. Environmental Health Officers can also visit and issue fines as part of this new law. I would like to try and re-assure you that GG&C NHS and local management take this seriously, and we will be doing our utmost to promote a no smoking campus.

Best wishes and I hope your wee one recovers from their respiratory problems over time

Janis Young

Site Facilities Manager

QEUH Campus

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