Smoke free trust
DID YOU know the trust has a smoke free policy?
As the area's largest employer, our prime concern is to help improve people's health and well-being and since July, 2006, both The James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital have been no-smoking sites.
The aim of our policy, which is in line with the Government's public health white paper, is to protect and improve the health of people working, visiting or staying in hospital.
It will also remove the dangers of second-hand smoke which is known to cause lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
As a smoke-free organisation we hope to:
- Protect the health of patients, staff and visitors
- Provide a clean and pleasant healthcare environment
- Improve the safety of the site
- Improve patient recovery and comfort
Staff will also provide support and advice to patients on the wards who want to give up smoking.
In theory the policy means patients, visitors and staff should not smoke anywhere inside our hospitals, outside hospital entrances or anywhere in the grounds...
However we know there is still a problem with smokers congregating outside hospital entrances, particularly on the James Cook site, and while the vast majority of people will extinguish their cigarettes if asked, there have been occasions when staff have been verbally abused by visitors and patients.
The trust has looked at various options to try and tackle this such as introducing talking boxes which are activated if someone lights up a cigarette and release a message with a polite request for it to be put out and no smoking signs are clearly visible at all entrances.
However we would ask the hardcore group of smokers to show a bit more consideration for others and not to smoke outside.
National No Smoking Day
TO HELP keep the trust's smoke free policy in the public eye, a number of events were held on No Smoking Day in March to encourage people to think about improving their wealth especially during these tough times as well as their health by quitting for good.
Doodling proved to be a doddle for young artists on the childrens ward at James Cook, when they put pen to paper and took part in a drawing competition to get the no smoking message across.
Working closely with South of Teesside NHS Stop Smoking Service and Middlesbrough Football Club, staff also visited the maternity unit to hand out no-smoking bibs to some of our newest arrivals.
Information and display stands were also held in both hospitals to provide information, advice and support to patients, visitors and staff.
Anyone who wants advice on stopping smoking can contact 0800 9524433 or visit www.timetoquit.co.uk