NUH launches public engagement on tackling smoking on hospital grounds | Latest news

• NUH is asking the public to help it shape future plans to tackle smoking at its hospitals.
• Nottingham hospital sites have been smokefree since 2006, but smoking continues to take place.
• The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and asks respondents about their experiences of smoking on hospital grounds and potential solutions.

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Patients, visitors, staff and local communities are being invited to help shape future plans to tackle smoking at Nottingham’s hospitals.  

Despite the grounds of Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital and Ropewalk House being smokefree since 2006, smoking continues to take place on these sites, particularly around main entrances.

As part of Stoptober, the annual public health campaign that encourages smokers to quit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has today launched a survey to gather views on what more can be done to reduce smoking on its sites and create a healthier environment for patients, visitors, staff and local communities.

The engagement comes as the Trust continues to receive feedback from people concerned about smoking near hospital buildings.

One member of staff said: "I often take my lunch break walking around the campus and am disappointed to see that some patients, visitors and staff continue to ignore the smokefree policy."

A family member who recently welcomed their first child at the QMC said: "Whilst the care we received was fantastic, I felt our final moments at QMC were tainted when we left the hospital. The first breath of outside air my daughter took was outside the main entrance and it was full of cigarette smoke."

A patient receiving regular treatment added: "The no smoking signs are clear, but people continue to smoke outside hospital buildings. I can imagine it's difficult to manage, but it feels like some people simply aren't taking notice."

Smoking on hospital grounds also presents significant safety risks. Earlier this year, a cigarette caused a fire outside the Emergency Department at QMC, resulting in the Trust declaring a critical incident. This incident highlighted the potential consequences of smoking in a busy healthcare environment.

Jack Adlam, Director of Communications and Engagement and Executive Sponsor for Smokefree at NUH, said: "Our hospitals should be welcoming, healthy environments for everyone. While we have introduced a range of measures over the past 20 years, we know smoking on our hospital grounds remains an ongoing challenge.

“We want to hear directly from patients, visitors, staff and local communities about what more we can do. This includes gathering views on a range of options, such as increased stop-smoking support, awareness campaigns, stronger enforcement of our smokefree policy and the possible introduction of designated smoking spaces away from hospital buildings.

“No decisions have been made. This engagement is about listening to the people who use our hospitals and ensuring any future action is informed by their experiences and views."

The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and asks respondents about their experiences of smoking on hospital grounds and their views on potential solutions.

The survey will remain open throughout October, with findings helping to inform future smokefree initiatives across NUH.

For more information and to complete the survey visit our website.