Smoking to be banned at New Cross Hospital

The cigarette ban will be phased over 12 months with the aim of making the site entirely smoke-free by next October.

It follows similar moves made by other trusts in the region.

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Staff will be required to quit smoking on the premises first with a deadline of January 1, 2020, set by health chiefs.

Support for patients and visitors will be developed over the next year, with the goal of having a totally smoke-free trust by October 2020, although vaping will still be allowed.

'Removing risks'

David Loughton, chief executive for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which also runs Cannock Chase Hospital, said: "As a healthcare organisation we have a duty to protect our employees, and those in our care, from preventable illness.

"We know that smoking contributes heavily to both cancer and cardiovascular disease, and that second-hand smoke can exacerbate many existing health conditions – it is therefore important to remove these risks."

He said the trust needed to actively protect the health and wellbeing of staff and patients, particularly more vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and those with long-term heart or breathing conditions.

A recent survey showed that many staff members were unhappy about the amount of cigarette smoke they are exposed to, particularly around the hospital entrances.

Bosses also pointed to evidence showing that such second-hand smoke can be damaging to health.

Mr Loughton said that the decision was reached based on feedback and national guidance.

The trust’s drive to become smokefree coincides with the start of Stoptober, Public Health England’s annual stop smoking event. The ban will put a stop to smoking from all of the trust's sites.

Smoking costs the NHS an estimated £2 billion a year, but the cost to society could be as much as £13.8bn each year. It also causes almost 80,000 premature deaths every year, and contributes to 1.7 million hospital admissions.

The Wolverhampton trust is taking an e-cigarette friendly stance and will provide areas for vaping.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust have banned smoking across its sites, including in cars if parked on site – with £50 fines dished out to visitors and disciplinary action for staff if they are caught.

Staff at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust are preparing to go smoke-free in the new year. Smoking in the grounds of Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley has been banned since May.