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Patients smoking and intimidating behaviour

Posted By Front242

"Patients smoking and intimidating behaviour"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres

(as a relative),

Again I feel I have to raise my concerns regarding patients smoking at the entrance to the mental health wards at Hairmyres Hospital. I have been attending my relative who is currently an in patient within the unit. On every evening I have been met with a gauntlet of patients and their visitors smoking within the reception area.

This is against nhs policy however I do not see it being enforced by staff. Being an asthma sufferer and a relative of someone who suffered smoking related disease, I find this behaviour unacceptable.  This evening, I happened to mention to a patient with a cigarette that there was a clear policy regarding their behaviour to which I was met with a barrage of abuse and offensive language. Visiting relatives is already a stressful and emotional experience without having to endure this daily experience.

I currently feel that nhs Lanarkshires smoking policy is laughable and no more a well thought of notion other than actually protecting the health of those it affects. 

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Responses

Response from Anne-Marie Carr, Service Manager, Mental Health Services South West, NHS Lanarkshire 7 years ago
Anne-Marie Carr
Service Manager, Mental Health Services South West,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 04/01/2017 at 18:20
Published on Care Opinion on 05/01/2017 at 17:57

Dear Front 242,

I understand your concern regarding patients smoking at the front door. It is something which we take seriously and are exploring various options regarding this. I would like to assure you that staff do speak to patients to try to discourage smoking in the vicinity of the door. Additionally patients are offered stop smoking services to try to help them reduce or refrain from smoking and there has been good success with this. I would suggest that you approach a member of staff if you have concerns in the future rather than raising this directly with patients or visitors.. If you would like to discuss this further please contact patient affairs who will assist with this.

Thank you for raising this matter.

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