Heartbeat January 2019

Smokefree countdown continues
CORPORATE AND GENERAL
NEWS
From 5 July 2019, our sites will
become free from tobacco smoke.
This commitment was made by
the Trust Board on the NHS’s 70 th
birthday last year. The “200 days to
go” countdown to smoke free sites
was marked on 17 December with
messages to colleagues, patients and
families that now is the time to quit
and make the most of the support
on offer with time to spare before
the ban.
Last month we launched a survey to
smokers and others, inviting them
to share their views and suggestions
for how this transition could be best
managed. Almost 200 people have
responded to date with 92 per cent
indicating that they are aware of the
forthcoming smoking ban.
Smokers who responded were
supportive of free nicotine replacement
therapy and initiatives to swap cigarettes
for alternative material including vaping
products and 70 per cent of people
said they had tried to stop or cut down
previously. Some people felt the ban
would have no impact on their own
smoking habits whereas others stated it
would encourage them to quit.
You can still share your views by
completing our short online survey at
surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JMXNK8R
There has been overwhelming support
Phil Sterling, Emergency Planning Officer, is
now vaping at work instead of smoking to
prepare for the ban
for the ban within our organisation and in
the local community.
Local GP, Dr Imran Zaman said: “I’ve just
heard about the Trust’s 200 days to go
smoke-free initiative and I think it’s a
fantastic idea. As GPs we often see patients
who are suffering from smoke-related
conditions, from lung cancer to COPD and
so I fully endorse and get behind this.”
Our Emergency Planning Officer, Phil
Stirling is a smoker, but he now vapes at
work rather than smoking cigarettes in
preparation for the ban. He told Heartbeat:
“I decided to take up vaping rather than
smoking. I’ve smoked since I was 17 years
old, but I only smoke at the weekend now.
To be honest it’s not pleasant to use the
smoking shelters to vape as you do pick up
the smell of smoke even from just spending
a couple of minutes there. That will be a big
change once the ban comes in, as although
there will be fewer shelters, they will be for
vaping only.”
Kiran Mann, Sister on OPAU is in support
of the ban. She said: “I think the Trust
going smoke free is a brilliant idea. I think
it will encourage people to stop smoking
because there are no designated smoking
areas, so they will have to go further out.
I think it will encourage people who want
to quit altogether…hopefully it will be a
great success.”
Respiratory Consultant, Dr Arvind
Rajasekaran said: “Lung cancer is the
largest cause of cancer- related deaths in
the UK and lung cancer is principally caused
by smoking cigarettes. The decision to go
smoke free will be part of a wider action to
increase awareness of the harmful effects of
smoking and also our efforts to help people
to give us this habit.”
Dr Manir Aslam is a GP at Broadway Health
Centre. He said: “People don’t expect
to go to hospital and work in a smoky
environment so if you’re thinking about
giving up, now is your chance.”
There is lots of help on offer for
smokers who want to cut down and
quit. Visit Connect for the latest
information and contact the health and
wellbeing service for details of clinics
at Rowley Regis, City and Sandwell
Hospitals with new sessions on
Saturdays.
6 months until we go
smokefree
2019
5
JULY
For information on stopping smoking please
contact occupational health on extension 3306.
#SWBHSmokeFree
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