No smoking anywhere on hospital sites from October

HAMPSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is taking action to make sure patients and visitors are not exposed to cigarette smoke on their way into and out of hospital.

From October 1, the trust, which runs Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, will become completely smoke-free, with no smoking or vaping allowed anywhere on site.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals, said: “Going smoke-free will mean a more pleasant and safe environment for everyone who uses or works in our hospitals and it is a step we are taking as part of our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors.”

Treating smoking-related conditions costs the NHS an estimated £2billion a year.

Smoking is also thought to cause almost 80,000 premature deaths every year, and contributes to 1.7 million hospital admissions.