“REALLY, you’re smoking on our hospital sites?” - Is the new campaign slogan adopted by a hospital’s smokefree team as they set out to encourage people not to smoke on hospital sites and to be more considerate.
The tobacco dependency treatment service (TDTS) at The James Cook University Hospital and Friarage Hospital, who offer inpatients support to quit, reduce or abstain from smoking, has rolled out a new campaign that forces people to have a rethink before they pull out a cigarette on hospital grounds.
The campaign will include going out to schools to share the message of the harmful effects of smoking and handing out ‘Really’ goodie bags with information on how to quit smoking in hospitals.
Moreover, the team has also installed tannoy systems across hospital sites that are most frequented by inpatient smokers.
The messages will include heartfelt pleas from the children of NHS staff members, school children and ex-smokers.
As part of Stoptober, the smokefree team has decided to try something different from previous years – which has focused more on sharing the traditional messages about smoking – in the hope this would inspire those who smoke in hospitals to be more considerate.
According to the NHS, smoking is an addiction and some find it extremely difficult to quit – even if it means they are undergoing treatments in hospitals.
Lauren Farrow, TDTS manager, said: “This is a harsh reality with no sugarcoating to it, as we have come across instances where inpatients have been smoking in and around hospitals, including the maternity entrance where pregnant mums come to attend their appointments.
“But as a smokefree team, we understand that smoking is an addiction, and we have a range of ways in which we can support patients and their families, to ensure that other patients and visitors can expect a smokefree site.”
“Please would you not smoke on our hospital sites”
The team recently visited Linthorpe Community Primary School, where enthusiastic school children recorded voice messages that will be played across the tannoy systems at The James Cook University Hospital and Friarage Hospital.
One such student was year six pupil, Eibhlin, who said: “I want people to stop smoking because my uncle suffered from cancer. He had some of his lung taken out because of this but now he is better. I want to raise awareness so that nobody else has to suffer.”
Headteacher Grace Mitchell said: “As part of our commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff, and wider community, we are proud to support the Really campaign and the wider Stoptober planning – a national initiative encouraging people to stop smoking during October.
“The messages that you will hear over the tannoy around James Cook and Friarage are from the voices of some of our wonderful pupils, some of whom have been affected directly by smoking."
The smokefree team hopes that the smokefree messages being played through the tannoy systems will encourage those who smoke on hospital sites to be more considerate and to stop smoking.
“Handing out ‘Really’ goodie bags
Besides raising awareness through tannoys, the smokefree team will be taking a step further in helping those with smoking addiction by handing out ‘Really’ themed goodie bags. The bags will include smoking support information, fidget toys and puzzles – which help smokers to stay engaged and keep their brain busy.
This will be handed out to those smoking in and around hospitals by the smokefree team, who will also offer them advice and ways to stub the cigarette out.
Lauren added: “Our Really campaign is a humorous way of sharing an important message to let people know that it’s not acceptable to smoke at our hospitals. “But also letting them know that we are here to support them.”