Hospital refuses to enforce cigarette ban over safety fears as smokers would have to cross main road to light up
Bosses at hospital in Dorset snub national restriction as they believe it will put smokers at risk
A HOSPITAL is refusing to enforce a ban on cigarettes — to help protect the health of smokers.
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset is keeping its fag shelters because smokers would have to cross a car park to light up off-site.
But bosses at one hospital are ignoring the calls amid fears smokers will have to cross a car park to light up off-site. It will also be near a main road where they will be at risk of being run over.
Anti-smoking campaigners are outraged by the decision by the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset.
Richard Renaut, the chief operating officer for the RBH, said: "We currently have a number of designated smoking areas across the Trust.
"If we ban smoking on our grounds all-together, as we have previously tried, it pushes staff, patients and visitors to smoke close to the main roads around the hospital which compromises their personal safety, especially at night.
"With feedback from the public, staff and the fire service, designated smoking shelters were located around both hospital sites. The Trust remains smoke free and smoking is only permitted within these shelters."
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He added the trust encourages and supports staff and patients to stop smoking with a specialist programme and regularly hosts pop-up events urging smokers to give up.
A spokesman added the 'compromise' to personal safety was mainly traffic especially as the speed limit on main road next to the hospital has a 40mph limit.
Duncan Selbie, the chief executive for Public Health England, wrote to every NHS Trust boss asking them to implement a ban on smoking across all hospital grounds.
Dorset County Hospital became smoke-free site 10 years ago, with a complete ban throughout the grounds and car parks.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of anti-smoking campaign group ASH, said: "Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable premature death in Britain killing nearly 100,000 people a year compared to less than 2,000 who die from road traffic accidents.
"The single most important change that smokers can make to improve their health is quit – Bournemouth should be doing more to support quitting not facilitating smoking."
She added NICE guidance clearly stated that all hospital premises including the grounds should be smoke-free as part of a comprehensive approach to helping smokers quit.
One local resident posted on an internet forum: "Presumably, by the same token, anyone entering the hospital either as a visitor or patient should not be allowed to leave for fear that their safety is compromised."