On Monday 5 September, the Scottish Government is introducing The Prohibition of Smoking Outside Hospital Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2022, which bans smoking within a 15-metre perimeter of NHS Lanarkshire hospital buildings.
NHS Lanarkshire has an existing No Smoking Policy where smoking and e-cigarettes are not allowed at or around doorways or anywhere on hospital grounds, which we recognise the majority of staff and hospital visitors follow.
The Quit Your Way Team offers free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to anyone who smokes to help them manage their nicotine withdrawal or quit smoking during their hospital visit. Find out before about referring patients for stop smoking support and NRT here or call the referrer helpline on 01698 754 888.
Shirley Mitchell, senior health improvement manager – Tobacco Control Team, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Although we have a current no smoking policy within NHS Lanarkshire, which the majority of people who visit our hospitals follow, we welcome this new legislation to further support public health.
“This new regulation will help protect patients and visitors who don’t smoke from second-hand smoke, including our staff, but it may also encourage those who smoke to give NRT a try and seek support from our Quit Your Way service.
“We understand giving up smoking is not an easy thing to do, and all patients are welcome to call Quit Your Way for more information and support prior to their hospital visit to help settle any worries they have about managing their nicotine withdrawals during their time here.”
Information posters will be distributed throughout the 3 acute sites for both staff and the public, however, if you would like a copy of this leaflet to print out for your staff directly, please email Pauline.brannigan@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.
