Patients group wants rethink on proposed NHS smoking ban

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 10:09

THE planned smoking ban on NHS Lothian sites should be reconsidered, a patients group has said.

The health board recently announced plans to make all hospitals and related premises completely smoke free.

However, the patients council at the city's psychiatric hospital said that while smoking clearly didn't benefit anyone's physical health, there was something to be said for it when mentally ill patients are spending long periods in hospital.

In a memo to health bosses, they pointed out that people often start or resume smoking when in hospital as a way of calming them down ahead of nerve-wracking treatments.

Organisation leaders also said there should be smoking areas on wards at the Royal Edinburgh in Morningside because some weren't able to access the outdoors in order to have a cigarette.

The document stated: "People should be encouraged and assisted to stop but you can't stop a habit and cure mental health problems at the same time.

"Opening times for smoking rooms could be gradually reduced to help people cut down.

"If more activities were available on the wards there would be less time for smoking – which is a personal choice and gives pleasure."

The document concluded: "Smoking is only one vice – we can't ban them all."