Council thanked as Medway Maritime Hospital celebrates smoke-free anniversary

The Medway NHS Foundation Trust has thanked Medway Council for its support, on the one year anniversary of Medway Maritime Hospital becoming a smoke-free site.

In October 2016, the hospital became a smoke-free site, meaning that patients, visitors and staff were no longer able to smoke in the buildings, hospital grounds and car parks.

The purpose of going smoke-free was to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of all patients, visitors and staff who use the hospital. The move was in keeping with many hospitals and public spaces where smoking is no longer permitted.

The Trust has ensured that patients and staff alike have been supported following the smoke-free move with free nicotine replacement therapy available on all wards for inpatients and weekly stop smoking sessions available for staff.

‘We will continue to work with the hospital’

Cllr David Brake, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said: “I would like to congratulate Medway Maritime Hospital for being smoke-free for a year. Medway’s Stop Smoking Service helps residents quit and it is fantastic that we have been able to support the hospital as well as patients, staff and visitors. Specially trained advisors and midwives have also been working with expectant parents to help them quit. We will continue to work with the hospital and I would encourage anyone who wants to give up smoking to contact the stop smoking team this Stoptober.”

‘We couldn’t have done it without them’

Lesley Dwyer, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust commented: “We are very proud to have been smoke-free at Medway for a year. We are delighted to have received fantastic support from staff, patients and our partners in going smoke-free and the hospital is a much healthier environment as a result. We are committed to maintaining our smoke-free status and visitors to our site may have seen our smoking wardens on patrol. Please do make their jobs a little easier by not smoking when you visit us!

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Medway Council and the Medway Stop Smoking Service for the support that they have provided to our patients, visitors and staff over the last year – we couldn’t have done it without them!”

Stoptober

The anniversary comes as the national ‘Stoptober’ campaign reaches its half-way stage. Smokers are four times more likely to quit if they see a Stop Smoking advisor or take part in a Stop Smoking programme. Last year 3,000 people used Medway Council’s seven week Stop Smoking programme and 50 per cent quit for good, in line with the national average.

If you are a smoker and would like to give up, you can get free specialist support from the Medway Stop Smoking Service. To book a one-to-one session with the council’s stop smoking team, call 01634 334800 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, text ‘QUIT’ to 81025.

For advice on how to quit smoking visit www.abettermedway.co.uk and click on smokefree.

Tags: , , , , , ,

News Categories

Trades

Business Directory Search