Call To Make All Hospital Sites Tobacco-Free Across Yorkshire

Thursday, 1 December 2016 07:00

Hospital sites across Yorkshire and the Humber are being urged to take steps to become tobacco-free to improve the health of their patients and staff.

This week Public Health England (PHE) Chief Executive Duncan Selbie has written to every NHS Trust Chief Executive asking them to implement a ban on smoking by patients, staff and visitors across all hospital buildings, car parks and grounds.

Despite declines in smoking prevalence over recent decades, over 848,000 adults across Yorkshire and the Humber still smoke and tobacco use remains the single largest cause of health inequalities and premature death. Treating smoking related ill-health costs the NHS in the region an estimated £223 million a year.

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides specialist mental health and learning disability services, became smokefree in April 2016. This means staff, service users and visitors can no longer smoke in buildings, grounds, vehicles or car parks.

The Trust took a series of steps in the 12-month period leading up to becoming smokefree, including communicating key messages to staff, service users and carers, providing training for staff, making adjustments to its estates and rolling out new procedures designed to support the move.

Anthony Deery, Director of Nursing, Professions and Quality at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:

‘Creating a completely smoke free environment is a significant milestone for any Trust and although it hasn’t always been an easy road, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Professor Martyn Regan, from PHE in Yorkshire and the Humber said:

‘The Leeds and York Partnership Trust is one of a number of trusts in our area who are leading the way in tackling head on the harms associated with smoking. They’re showing that with thought, care and sensitivity, we can create healthy and health-creating environments for patients and staff.’

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