Ban On Smoking On Hospital Grounds

[sp1814]

Do you agree with these proposals?

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-told-to-ban-smoking-near-hospitals-8966155.html

I think it kinda makes sense really...especially if health trusts can offer free support (patches, gum, inhalers etc).

What do you think?

[ChillDoubt]

For what it's worth, this is how I did it:

Get rid of EVERYTHING in the house, car, shed etc that involves smoking. Ashtrays, lighters, matches and yes, that pack of 5 you will keep under the sink for emergencies?
Run them under the tap! All tobacco paraphernalia MUST go.
Start saying and repeating "No thanks, I don't smoke".
Stay busy. Bored for 10 minutes? Go for a walk.
Hands fidgety? Get a fake cigarette, Rubik's cube or even a stress ball.

Small steps. Get to 5 hours. Another 5 and you're in double figures. Well done!
Now aim for a full 24. Keep praising yourself, you can do this. Plenty of mints and gum at hand, sugar free of course. Change your habits. Used to have a fag before bed? Have an apple instead. Note how good it tastes now you're a non-smoker.
Now you're aiming for 3 days. No, scrub that, aim for 50 hours, then we'll get to 3 days.
Colleague in work wants to go for a quick drag, needs someone to go too. "Sorry, I don't smoke any more".
That's the spirit!
3 days has gone by, now aiming for 5. Get to 7 and that's a full weak! With the money you've saved, spend it on a treat for yourself. CD, bottle of wine, whatever.
Now your'e aiming for 10, you're now a fully committed non-smoker.
Well done, keep it up!

OK, a bit cheesy but that's the mantra, you WILL get there. People will give you a second glance as you pass because you no longer have that awful smell, will engage you in conversation without turning away too.

Give it a go, there can only be benefits, there's no downside to packing in.

[ChillDoubt]

I get that but it's so patronising all the time. I used to be a teacher, I don't go round correcting spellings and grammar
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Erm.... I'd rather you did if you were teaching my child, in fact I'd be disappointed if you didn't!

[naomi24]

I can understand why people are opposed to smoking in confined spaces – it is unpleasant – but it seems odd to me that establishments that provide substitutes to people addicted to illegal substances have no sympathy when dealing with people addicted to legitimate substances.

[Jeza]

I smoke not that many but more since Mic has been ill. I never smoke in public. When my sister in law was dying of cancer her oncologist told her if you want to smoke then do so, it won't make any difference. It was not a smoking related cancer. What has happened to live and let live, and why the bloody hell are we living in a nanny state. Shall we blame Europe as we blame them for everything else that our spineless government won't stand up for.

[sherrardk]

If that post was for me, thanks but I don't currently care to give up. I have cut down to a level I am happy with, people do not shun me in the street (I am not a Fluffing leper). My step dad gave up and was evangelical about the method he used (some tablets from the doctor). He's smoking again now (senoir health professional, he knows the risks). Not all smokers want to quit but I am happy that you have achieved your wish to do so. See, it's easy, live and let live.

[sherrardk]

USED to be a teacher.

[horseshoes]

I remember that when I was in our maternity hospital after having my son, the nurses used to take the babies to the nursery then bring us ashtrays so we could have a cigarette in our beds! In the general hospital, the day rooms used to be so full of smoke you could hardly breathe in them. We've come a long way since then. I've been a non-smoker for the past 10 years and I think hospitals should provide smoking shelters or similar away from the building but stop people smoking outside the hospital doors so that you have to walk through the smoke.

[Jeza]

In 2008 smokers cost the nhs £2.7 billion per year
The Exchequer received over £9 billion in the same year from smokers.
Can we move on to the overweight, or shall we stick to slagging off smokers.

[ChillDoubt]

I have cut down to a level I am happy with, people do not shun me in the street (I am not a Fluffing leper).
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The buzzword round these parts is Snoutcast, given that they huddle in shelters in all weathers outside the pub.

Cigarettes are known as Deathsticks.

Glad you've reached a level you're happy with sher, but without trying to put a guilt trip on you, what do your children think of you smoking? Genuine question.
I ask because my son has seen 3 of his 4 grandparents die from lung cancer and he despises it.

[woofgang]

naomi, actually organisationally, the NHS has the same sympathy for both drug or alcohol addicts and smokers. Smokers are offered free support, medications and substitute preparations as well as support and talking therapies, the same as drug addicts and alcoholics. When in hospital, drug and alcohol addicts are not allowed to use their drug of choice, not even in the hospital grounds.

[woofgang]

Jeza can you show me one comment in this thread where I have slagged off smokers? I actually thought that all of us were having quite a calm and balanced discussion here.

[ChillDoubt]

But Jeza, overweight people don't give off passive calories/fat to other people, directly affecting their health.

[woofgang]

lol if I could pass on some of my fat, I blooming would though!!

[ChillDoubt]

I think the smokers ire is aimed at me, woof!

Broad shoulders, I'll take the flak! LOL

[Jeza]

Woof, I didn't say you did. Every few weeks on here there are posts about smoking.
What about obese people, what about alki's and binge drinkers.
I'm not saying smokers should be allowed to smoke near the hospital entrance. What I am saying is we give a lot of money to the exchequer, how much do the fatties, druggies etc give.
Imagine if all smokers gave it up. Where do you think the exchequer would get his shortfall from?

[sherrardk]

My children do not comment on my smoking but they are acutely aware on my thoughts re them starting smoking (ie, they are not going to and they are not getting a motorbike either). My mother, a die hard, anti-smoker died of cancer aged 61 and my great grandfather (a smoker) died aged 99. You make your choices and take your chances. I am reasonably fit and healthy, I am not over weight. I don't drink to excess, eat too much salt or get too stressed (if avoidable). My husband was very ill earlier in the year, smoking may or may not have contributed to it yet he is still smoking. I love him to pieces but it is his decision to continue to do so. Do we live 'guilt' free lives or enjoy our lives? I shan't be guilt tripped into anything. I love my children and want them to feel loved, happy and safe but I only get one Sugar at life too, so shall make my own, informed decisions on how I do it.

[woofgang]

Chill doubt, i was an Occupational Therapist, now retired. part of my job was to help people with disabilities to do for themselves WHATEVER they wanted provided that it was legal. if someone had wanted to be able to smoke then I would have helped them with the practicalities of that in their own homes. I do remember one lady who was ver frail and lived in res care. she used to pass out when she smoked. her family wanted her to be stopped but the social worker, (non smoker) the care home rep (non smoker) and me (also non smoker) argued that she had the right to choose and the care home made sure that she always smoked seated and supervised. I really do believe in the right of adults to choose, to make choices that others might consider wrong and stupid, provided that those choices don't affect others. I would talk about smoking cessation options to my patients where it was appropriate but i believed that it wasn't right to force my views, or the views of my organisation, on other people in their own homes.

[baza]

who are these people (NICE) , a qango, they take money from taxpayers, do away with them and a small portion of the money saved could be spent on a smokers shelter within hospital grounds, win win all round.

[woofgang]

Don't know and don't care Jeza. My view on this is about the logistics of people smoking in hospitals.

[woofgang]

baza, they work to consider, objectively, research on medical matters and based on that research make recommendations on how NHS money should be spent.NICE may be a quango, but its a blooming useful one.