Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) is inviting patients, visitors, staff, and local communities to help shape future plans to address smoking on its hospital sites. Despite hospital grounds, including those of Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital, and Ropewalk House, being smokefree since 2006, smoking continues to occur, particularly near main entrances.
As part of the Stoptober campaign, NUH has initiated a survey to collect opinions on potential solutions for reducing smoking and fostering a healthier environment. This engagement follows feedback from individuals concerned about smoking near hospital buildings. Staff and family members have shared experiences of encountering smoke near entrances and main entrances, highlighting the ongoing challenge.
The issue of smoking on hospital grounds also poses safety risks. Earlier this year, a cigarette caused a fire outside the Emergency Department at the QMC, leading the Trust to declare a critical incident. This event underscored the potential consequences of smoking in a busy healthcare setting.
Jack Adlam, Director of Communications and Engagement and Executive Sponsor for Smokefree at NUH, stated, "Our hospitals should be welcoming, healthy environments for everyone. While we have introduced a range of measures over the past 20 years, we know smoking on our hospital grounds remains an ongoing challenge. We want to hear directly from patients, visitors, staff and local communities about what more we can do."
Adlam added that views are being gathered on options such as increased stop-smoking support, awareness campaigns, stronger enforcement of the smokefree policy, and the potential introduction of designated smoking spaces away from hospital buildings. He emphasised that no decisions have been made and the engagement aims to inform future actions based on people's experiences and views.
The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will remain open throughout October. The findings will help inform future smokefree initiatives across NUH.
