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08/02/2016
Smoking To Be Banned On NI Hospital Sites
A new smoking ban is to be introduced on all hospital sites across Northern Ireland.
From 09 March, staff, patients and visitors will be prohibited from smoking on the grounds.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Public Health Agency (PHA) Chief Executive Dr Eddie Rooney demolished a smoking shelter at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, which will be replaced by a bike shelter.
Dr McBride said: "One in every two people who smoke will die from their habit. By going smoke free, the health service is taking a big step forward in tackling smoking head-on by making its premises healthier environments.
"Smoking not only has a human cost. With one third of cancer deaths, and a significant proportion of coronary heart disease, strokes and circulatory illnesses, caused by smoking, it creates a massive financial burden on the health service in treating preventable smoking-related conditions.
"It is unacceptable for patients, visitors and staff to be subjected to second-hand smoking while on health and social care facilities. By making this move, we hope to both protect people's health directly and to influence cultural change by creating new norms around smoking in public."
Dr Eddie Rooney said: "Stopping smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health. Creating smoke free health and social care environments and providing tailored support for people who want to quit their habit will help in our ambition to protect public health."
(CD/JP)
From 09 March, staff, patients and visitors will be prohibited from smoking on the grounds.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Public Health Agency (PHA) Chief Executive Dr Eddie Rooney demolished a smoking shelter at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, which will be replaced by a bike shelter.
Dr McBride said: "One in every two people who smoke will die from their habit. By going smoke free, the health service is taking a big step forward in tackling smoking head-on by making its premises healthier environments.
"Smoking not only has a human cost. With one third of cancer deaths, and a significant proportion of coronary heart disease, strokes and circulatory illnesses, caused by smoking, it creates a massive financial burden on the health service in treating preventable smoking-related conditions.
"It is unacceptable for patients, visitors and staff to be subjected to second-hand smoking while on health and social care facilities. By making this move, we hope to both protect people's health directly and to influence cultural change by creating new norms around smoking in public."
Dr Eddie Rooney said: "Stopping smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health. Creating smoke free health and social care environments and providing tailored support for people who want to quit their habit will help in our ambition to protect public health."
(CD/JP)
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