Walsall Manor becomes latest hospital to announce full smoking ban

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has announced it will be a completely smoke-free organisation by the end of March 2020.

This means noone will be be allowed to smoke or vape anywhere on the Manor Hospital site or trust-owned community venues.

Smoking shelters will be removed, with the ban applying to all indoor and outdoor areas, including car parks.

It follows similar moves by other hospital trusts in the region this year.

The new smoke-free policy 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.”

It comes after it was announced a total smoking ban will be brought in at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital.

Starting with staff in January, the cigarette ban will be phased over 12 months with the aim of making the site entirely smoke-free by next October.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has also 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.

And smoking in the grounds of Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley has been banned since May.