Archway hospital jumps on the ‘ban’-dwagon

SMOKERS were banned from the Whittington Hospital’s grounds on Monday.
The hospital decided to steal a march on government legislation that will make every hospital smoke free by the end of the year.
Patients will be given special Nicotine-Replacement Therapy (NRT) – including free inhalers, nicotine chewing gum and patches – if they find the ban hard to deal with.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, and Islington’s Deputy Mayor Anna Brent, were at the hospital on Monday to mark the start of the ban.
The politicians admitted they used to smoke but had recently given up. Ms Flint said she started smoking in a bid to get slim, whilst Mr Corbyn reflected how one craving could lead to another.
He said: “I started smoking after a woman led me astray.”
Ms Flint shared stories with hospital staff that had recently quit smoking. She said: “I smoked for a year before I got a job doing data entry. They imposed a ban on smoking in the work place and after a while I just stopped.”
She added: “I know most people cannot just quit like that – it’s tough. But we can raise awareness and hopefully help people get out of a difficult situation.”
Ms Flint asked some of the smokers if they had become “evangelists” since kicking the fatal habit.
But many staff thought the holier than thou approach did not work.
Jackie Hennessey, who works in the A&E, said it irritated her when people told her to stop. She said: “I try not to be one of those people. When I smoked I hated it when people told me not to smoke. The decision to stop comes from you alone.”
The sentiment was echoed outside the hospital as the rain-clouds began to swell. Sodden smokers said having to haul themselves into the rain was frustrating.
Jean Mackee, who had just had her appendix removed, thought the ban was ridiculous. She said: “We should have the right to smoke if we want to. It’s a long way from the ward to the exit. There have been people with drips out here. It’s stupid.”
She added: “I was told that if I was caught smoking on the grounds again they would chuck me out. I’ve just had my appendix out for god’s sake.”
But Mike Lloyd, who recently stopped smoking after 25 years, said he told Ms Mackee to stop smoking in the gardens twice in one hour. He said: “We were hoping that this would not happen. I don’t think there will be a problem – I have spoken to 18 other smokers today and all of them were happy to move out of the grounds.”