Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has announced it will be a completely smoke free organisation by 31st March 2020 as part of its commitment to improving the Health and Wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors.
This means that no-one will be not be allowed to smoke or vape anywhere on the Manor Hospital site or Trust owned community venues. This includes no smoking or use of e-cigarettes in Trust car parks and outside public areas , smoking shelters are also being removed.
The new “smoke free” policy – designed to protect people against the proven health risks of smoking and second hand smoke – will be supported by a programme of ‘quit’ training for staff in a range of Trust services. Staff and in-patients will all be offered support to quit smoking if they want it.
Richard Beeken, Chief Executive said, “We want to ensure that we do all we can to discourage smoking due to the damage it can do to people’s health. This includes stopping any smoking or vaping at all in and around any of our hospital buildings and community sites. Alarmingly more than a quarter of the population of Walsall are smokers , higher than the national average, and as the biggest healthcare provider in the area we have a responsibility to reduce this figure and in turn the serious illnesses associated with it.
Going smoke-free will mean a much more pleasant and safe environment for everyone who uses or works in the Trust not to mention the improvements in overall health and wellbeing.”
Over the coming weeks updates with be shared on how we plan to go smoke free via social media, please follow us on twitter, facebook or Instagram, @WalsallHCareNHS for latest news.