Government backs hospital smoking ban

THE bid to make the city's psychiatric hospital smoke-free has been backed by a Scottish Government announcement.

Ministers have published guidelines about how to implement smoking bans, though they added that the measures would not be mandatory for health boards to adopt.

However, health chiefs in the Lothians are keen to ban smoking from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside, despite fears that it will worsen the mental health of some patients and deprive staff of a much-needed cigarette break.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "Patients and staff in mental health services should have the same opportunities to enjoy the benefits of a smoke-free environment as the rest of the NHS in Scotland.

"Allowing smoking in residential mental health settings, when it is completely banned in all other NHS settings, simply perpetuates inequalities.

"Removing smoking rooms in mental health settings will undoubtedly be challenging but there is evidence that smoke-free policies can be effectively introduced and this guidance will help health boards to achieve that."