Dying for
What a drag as smoking ban is ignored
Brazen patients, staff, visitors and pregnant women at Wishaw General Hospital are continuing to flout the smoking ban.
NHS Lanarkshire banned smoking in hospital grounds in 2008.
They spent £7108 reinforcing the message with dozens of new signs which are displayed at various locations across the hospital, including at the main entrance and in the car park.
However, many people are continuing to disregard the large, bright signs and are still failing to adhere to the smoke-free rules.
The Wishaw Press went along to the hospital to ask why people are rebelling against the rules.
Ray Gillon, who was at the hospital to visit his uncle, said he regularly tells ‘rude’ people to stop smoking if he sees them lighting up in the hospital grounds.
He added: “It’s disgusting and disrespectful. It is not good for the people doing it and for others around them. They need to be stopped.
“The ones continuing to ignore the rules are setting a bad example to others.
“When I see them doing it I tell them to stop and what I think of them. Someone has to.”
A new, young mum, who did not wish to be named, said she was disgusted by the amount of people who smoke in the hospital grounds.
She added: “My baby was 11 weeks premature so I’m
In the letter sent to NHS Lanarkshire last December, it stated the new arrangements will be enforced by local authority officers rather than by hospital staff.
However, NHS staff will be able to report incidents to these officers.
Enforcement officers would then be able to issue fixed penalty notices or refer particularly bad cases to the Procurator Fiscal.
Anyone who flouts the ban within will be subject to the same penalties as if caught smoking in a public place – a £50 fixed fine. However, if this is not paid the case will be taken to court, with a possible fine of up to £1,000.
Harpreet Kohli, NHS Lanarkshire director of public health, said:“We would welcome any additional Scottish