NHS Lanarkshire’s Quit Your Way team, in conjunction with the Green Health Partnership, has unveiled new bee-autiful hand-made smoke-free signs at various hospital site gardens.
These aim to ensure patients, staff, and visitors can enjoy a relaxed smoke-free environment while attracting bees and other garden wildlife to enhance these outdoor areas.
The gardens were created by NHS Lanarkshire’s Green Health Programme and integrate green activities into patient rehabilitation programmes and dementia groups. Patients grow fresh vegetables on these hospital sites where all produce grown is used within NHS Lanarkshire or donated to the Clydesdale Foodbank.
NHS Lanarkshire worked with Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) to develop these signs which were made free-handed by CCI’s woodcraft team at Langloch Farm. They have been installed by their participant and volunteer teams at five hospital sites; Kirklands, Coathill, Airbles Road, Udston, and Hairmyres.
One of the CCI volunteers, Andy Logan, from Newmains, actually quit smoking with the Quit Your Way service and volunteers with CCI where he installed the smoke-free signs around the hospital sites.
Andy said: “Smoking affected my health and when I was out working with CCI I was out of breath quickly.
“When I was in hospital, I was referred to Sharon, the stop smoking nurse, where I was prescribed patches but I wasn’t ready to quit smoking then. It took me a few attempts with the service to quit and I quit smoking for good one year ago.
“Sharon was really supportive and if I felt down I could phone her and she would reassure me, my patches and lozenges were delivered every week and I’d put my patch on every morning. I used to smoke because I thought I needed it when I was stressed but once I stopped the patches and lozenges I kept going with support from Sharon and I’ve not looked back.
“Since I’ve quit I’ve noticed my fitness has improved and the gardening with CCI is easier now too, I didn’t think I’d be able to stop especially when I was at home myself.
“I’ve volunteered with CCI for nine years, before I didn’t know anything about gardening but I’ve done loads of different things like planting trees, chopping willow brushes, growing veg and weeding, it all helps with my mental health. I’ve got people to talk with in the group and I just got my strimmer and bush cutting license after a two-day course.
“Putting the smoke-free signs up around the hospitals with other patients was a good experience, if I can do it others can too.”
Sharon Rankine, mental health nurse specialist – Quit Your Way, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I’m really proud of Andy’s progress and I think it’s amazing he’s come full circle by quitting smoking with our service and now supporting others to be smoke-free by implementing the signs around the hospital gardens.
“Andy has stopped smoking for over a year and he has also abstained from alcohol, it took more than several attempts for him to quit smoking but we never gave up.
“Having a diagnosis of any condition should never stop a client accessing our service, we have a team of dedicated, experienced nurses who are knowledgeable of health conditions and provide the relevant health information and nicotine replacement products.
“Quitting smoking is achievable, even if you have tried previously don’t let it hold you back from trying again, our specialist support is available when you’re ready.”
Vicki Trim, health improvement lead Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, and green health partnership manager, NHS Lanarkshire, added: “Research shows that spending time outdoors plays an important role in improving our overall mental health and wellbeing.
“These gardens are a lovely and special space for inpatients, outpatients, hospital staff and visitors to enjoy the benefits of green health and being out in nature. Our ongoing partnership with CCI and funding from NHS Charities Together supports them to experience a positive boost to their physical, emotional and mental health, as well as new and improved hospital grounds.
“We currently have a no smoking policy across all NHS Lanarkshire sites, which the majority of people who visit our hospitals follow, these signs will further protect people who don’t smoke from second-hand tobacco smoke, and gives our hospital gardens a clean-air environment for those who use them.”
Jamie Hope, training and project development coordinator, CCI, commented: “I’ve worked with Andy for four years and I am so proud of what he has achieved, it’s been amazing to see his progress.”
Quit Your Way can be contacted Monday – Friday from 9am until 5pm.
For more information, call 0800 84 84 84 or visit NHS Inform’s Quit Your Way website.
You can now use our ‘Click to be Contacted’ service, select your local or nearest area, leave your name, preferred contact method, and we will be in touch with you.
You can also visit your local Community Pharmacy for free stop smoking support. Find your nearest community pharmacy.
