MP hits out at plans for RVH smoking rooms

DUP Health Spokesperson, Iris Robinson has hit out at the proposed cost of new smoking rooms at the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast

The hospital says it plans to build smoking rooms at its new £46 million complex at a cost of £500,000.

Describing the decision as an "absurd way to waste money", the Stranford MP said: "Tobacco smoking is the single greatest preventable risk factor for cancer. It kills three thousand people prematurely in Northern Ireland each year, with annual inpatient costs as a result of smoking totalling £22 million.

"We have actually been making progress in Northern Ireland in reducing the number of smokers, apart from amongst young females. The risk from passive smoking should be minimised by banning smoking in public places like restaurants and workplaces.

"Certainly sending out the message to the public that £500 000 should be spent to allow people to smoke at the RVH could not be more wrong."

"With the worst waiting lists in Europe, it is not as if our health service would be short of other potential uses for the money", she concluded.

(MB)