Friday 5 July we are smokefree!
July 4, 2019
Friday 5 July we are smokefree! Colleagues, patients and visitors will no longer be allowed to smoke on our sites, in car parks, or in their cars parked on our property from this date. By bringing in the ban, we are promoting cleaner air in our care.
And who better than to deliver the message than the future generation.
The children, aged between five and 14, are featured in an emotive film in which they explain why a smoking ban is such an important factor in their lives.
“When I grow up I want to be healthly and always breathe in fresh air,” five-year-old Leela Evans tells us.
Whilst Alex Croasdale adds: “I want to play outside with my friends in air that smells of grass and flowers.”
Also featured are Eleanor Varma, aged 11, and Lauren Mighty-Clarke. Be sure to check out the video.
To find out how the smoking ban may affect you, please read the Smokefree Policy
All about the ban – your questions and comments answered
As part of our preparations for going smoke free we wanted to share some common questions and debunk some myths about the ban. Click here to read our smoking FAQ.
Meet our smokefree enforcement officers:
Meet Ryan Hanley and Rafal Brzezinski, two of our smokefree enforcement officers. You may have seen them patrolling the sites already in their distinctive red uniforms.
They will be enforcing the smoking ban across all outdoor areas, including in cars parked on our sites, from Friday. We are working in partnership with SafetyNet Security Group.
Ryan said: “We will be patrolling all three sites ensuring that they are kept as a smokefree zone.”
Be sure to check out this short video featuring our smokefree enforcement officers.
Guidance on challenging smokers:
Guidance has been produced to support anyone who is on the smoking ban rota. During your walkabout you will encourage people to stop smoking on our sites and give advice and support about the alternatives available. The public are generally very approachable, pleasant and compliant and this should be a great opportunity for you to get out and about and speak directly to your patients, visitors, contractors and even your colleagues. However you must take steps to ensure your safety and this guidance will help to keep safe.
Be sure to check out this short clip featuring patient being challenged by a colleague.
Watch out for our smokefree champions:
To support the smooth implementation of going smokefree, smokefree champions will be on a walkabout across the Trust encouraging anybody who is smoking to stub it out, whether that be patients, visitors or fellow colleagues Be sure to give them a wave should you see them pass your area or department!
Chief Executive Toby Lewis and the board recently went on a walkabout around the grounds of City Hospital, including the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) and the Birmingham Treatment Centre (BTC) to see the spots – official and unofficial – where people are known to smoke.