[I]n support of No Smoking Day tomorrow (14 March 2018), North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is reaffirming its commitment to being a smoke free organisation.
Smoking is already not permitted in the Trust’s hospitals or grounds as part of the Trust’s commitment to improving the health & wellbeing of its staff, patients and visitors. Now the Trust wants to remind people that we can provide support to help smokers quit in a bid to reduce the number of people who smoke.
200 deaths every day in England are as a result of smoking-related illnesses and, for every death caused by smoking, approximately 20 smokers are suffering from smoking-related disease.
Dr John Atkinson, clinical director for respiratory at the Trust, said: “The harmful effects of smoking are well publicised and well known. What we’re trying to do is make sure that every patient we see gets the help and support they need to quit and will no longer feel the need to stand outside and smoke.
“The Trust wants to promote a healthy atmosphere and we know that people who smoke have longer recovery times and have much higher risks during hospital procedures.
“We also know the vast majority of our patients and visitors want to see an end to people smoking on site and we’re asking for everyone’s support to make our hospitals smoke free.
“We have also taken the difficult decision to allow people to vape outdoors on site. While vaping is not risk free, it is less damaging to peoples’ health and there are no known effects from second hand vaping.”
Rod Harpin, medical director, said: “Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and early death and it results in nearly half a million hospital appointments every year.
“There many reasons hospitals should be helping patients to quit including adding years to someone’s life and reducing the risk of re-admissions. In addition, quitting smoking can reduce the risk of infections and improve healing after operations.”
