Patients fume over fags ban

Published on Tuesday 1 February 2011 12:33

STAFF and patients at the city's psychiatric hospital have hit out at a ban on smoking.

NHS Lothian decided to bring the Royal Edinburgh in Morningside into line with other local hospitals by making it "smoke free" at the turn of the year.

It has left only two outdoor smoking shelters to cover the massive grounds, making a cigarette break for many staff and patients almost impossible.

That is having a negative impact on some patients, though the hospital's patient council said others were using it to their advantage.

Anti-smoking charities welcomed the move to get rid of smoking rooms at the hospital, but appreciated there were exceptions when it comes to mental hospitals.

Health chiefs in Edinburgh don't believe there is evidence that tobacco eases a patient's condition while in a psychiatric hospital.

As a result, they have opted to mirror NHS trusts in England by abolishing smoking from the hospital, though the Scottish Government's official position is to leave the decision up to health boards.

David Budd, development worker for the hospital's patient council, said: "We do get cases where patients are extremely distressed and the only thing that will calm them down is a cigarette. When I see that, I do question the evidence that suggests otherwise."

In addition, staff at the Royal Edinburgh have also been irked by the ruling. Working with mental health patients can induce more stress, meaning smoking health workers particularly cherish their tobacco break.

But under this smoking shelters scheme, a number are unable to get access to them in the short time a cigarette break allows.

It has also led to a rise in patients flouting the rules by smoking in corridors and stairwells.

Mr Budd said: "Some have used this as an opportunity to give up smoking, in some cases after 20 years of it, and of course there is less second-hand smoke inhalation.

"Others are saying the 'smoking room' culture helped new patients settle in, with the idea of being passed a cigarette and being able to talk to other patients."

As recently as 12 months ago, cigarettes were successfully used as incentives to patients for tasks and co-operation.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh-based Ash Scotland, the anti-smoking lobby group, said: "It's important that mental health service users have the same rights to clean air as everyone else, but it has to be done in a practical way and staff informed about what needs to be done."

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health and health policy at NHS Lothian, said: "It is important that our smoking cessation policy is consistent across all our hospitals.

"Patients and staff continue to be able to smoke in designated areas of the grounds at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and we have had many positive comments on the impact of this.

"With more than 1500 deaths in Lothian each year that can be attributed to smoking, it is vital that we do everything we can to help prevent these deaths."