Why aren’t smoking bans being enforced in all UK hospital premises?

IN RESPONSE to your reader’s letter about smoking in hospitals, I would comment that, unfortunately, the Worcestershire Royal is not the only hospital with this problem. I work at Colchester General Hospital and have emailed our chief executive and the estates department regarding the same issue more times than I care to remember. We are supposedly a non-smoking hospital and smoking is ‘banned’ on all hospital premises. In reality, smokers are never challenged by security or management. Many of the smokers are staff, who blatantly ignore the rules. The hospital paths are ashtrays, covered with cigarette butts, packets, and often drink cans and cups — the smokers obviously cannot dispose of their other rubbish, either. I have pointed out that the ‘no smoking’ policy is not working and have asked for more bins — at least then the rubbish would be contained. I was promised this would happen, but months

later the problem continues. No other country would permit this, but we are expected to just put up and shut up. All it would take is security or management to do their job, but I’m not holding my breath.

KATRINA COOKE,

Colchester, Essex.

ASTHMA sufferer Fern Bowkett is understandably aggrieved at being exposed to cigarette smoke, especially at hospital entrances (Letters). She states smoking bans, signs and fines don’t seem to act as a deterrent. Pinderfields hospital in Wakefield installed a loudspeaker system last year to deter smokers. It plays one of nine pre-recorded messages if staff, visitors or patients press a blue button. This is laudable, but I would just have a sensor with a flashing red light that goes off every time someone lights up. It would scream ‘Help, this person is poisoning me with their smoke’ over and over again, until they move far enough away to not cause harm. There’s nothing like a bit of embarrassment to make selfish people take notice.

LYNDA SULLIVAN, Braddan, Isle of Man.

FERN BOWKETT’S letter about the life-threatening effects of other people’s smoke on her health was thoughtprovoking. As an asthma sufferer, when I walk through cosmetics and perfume/aftershave areas at airports, I am forced to cover my face and walk as quickly as possible. Customers testing these products are obviously unaware of the distress and danger that spraying perfumes can cause. As so many people have breathing problems nowadays, isn’t it about time airports provided a route through the concourse other than duty free for travellers like myself who suffer when they fly? We should be given a choice if our health is affected.

SUSAN WINSER, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.