"Not happy about the non-smoking policy outside the hospital"

I have been a patient at the Rotherham District Hospital and I stayed on ward B3 and B2. I had been having problems with a previous left hip replacement and was in acute pain. Although all nursing on both of the wards were good, I found the staff on B3 to be the best in respect to it being a much livelier ward.

I think a smoking area outside of the hospital would be better. I think it is wrong not to allow people to smoke in the grounds as being in hospital is stressful enough.

I feel that I was treated very well, my only upset was the above, I am in full agreement with any no-smoking policy - but I think it is harsh and unfair to include the outside. I suffer with my nerves and it would have helped me considerably if I could have had the odd cigarette outside. I fully respect a no-smoking policy indoors, I also only smoke outside at home, but everyone is different and a cigarette helps sometimes. People who do not smoke could never understand how a smoker feels. Stopping people smoking outside is just too harsh and unfair, especially considering that the psychiatric wards have a smoking area!