Union calls for hospital smoking ban to be dropped

Published on Tuesday 31 March 2009 23:10

UNION members are opposing plans by a Scottish health board to implement a complete ban on smoking at all its hospital sites.

Under a proposed zero-tolerance policy NHS Grampian announced two months ago, the ban could stop staff smoking at any time while in uniform – or even wearing an NHS badge.

Smoking has already been prohibited inside hospital buildings.

Public consultation on the controversial ban – condemned as "health fascism" by one pro-smoking campaigner – ended yesterday.

Members of the health service union Unison are calling for the move to outlaw smoking on every site operated by the North-east health authority to be abandoned.

Martin McKay, a Unison shop steward, said that a survey of the union's members in NHS Grampian showed that 87 per cent were opposed to a total ban. Of those who took part, 53 per cent claimed to be non– smokers. Concerns had been raised about the impact of a blanket ban on both staff and patients.

"The main concerns we have are two-fold," he said. "There is the issue of personal choice and concerns on the part of our membership that their entitlement to carry out what they want to do during their breaks would somehow be restricted.

"There were also wider concerns about patients. We are acutely aware of how admission to hospital at any time can be stressful and issues which could increase that stress, such as not being able to smoke, would be problematic for them."

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: "This is the last day of the consultation and all comments are welcome. We are a health promoting body and extending the smoke free areas on our sites is part of our tobacco policy, which was developed and agreed in partnership with union representatives."