PATIENTS, staff and visitors at hospitals across south Warwickshire can no longer light up a cigarette.
A Smoke Free Trust policy has been implemented by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) which bans smoking at all trust sites.
The policy supports the Trust’s and Warwickshire Public Health’s ambition to improve the health and well-being of people across the county.
A number of steps have been taken to achieve this with some of the most noticeable being new signs informing people of the changes and the removal of smoking shelters.
Trust chief executive Glen Burley said: “I am pleased that we have taken a really positive step towards supporting the health and well-being of our local communities.
“As a health care provider and one of the largest employers in Warwickshire we have a duty to do everything we can to encourage staff, patients and visitors to quit smoking and making all of our sites smoke free will support this.
“In a time when there are increasing demands on NHS resources it makes no sense that we are treating people from the damaging health effects of smoking whilst on the same sites people are lighting up cigarettes.”
Stop smoking services are available in the outpatients pharmacy at Warwick Hospital, and at locations throughout Warwickshire. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/smokefree or call 0800 0852917 for further information.
