Sandwell and West Birmingham becomes smokefree

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has become a smokefree organisation – banning smoking in any outdoor areas and cars parked on site.

Marking the NHS birthday, the West Midlands Healthcare Trust made the pledge to go smokefree exactly one year ago. Now, patients will be offered NRT products as alternatives if appropriate and will face a fine of £50 if they ignore the ban and smoke on the hospital premises.

Two vaping shops will also open, run by eZigWizard, with one based at Sandwell Hospital.

Public Health England has said all trusts should go smoke-free, but a third are yet to set a date.

Dr Ziaudeen Ansari, Respiratory Consultant, said: “It is very frustrating to see patients in our respiratory clinics who present with COPD and lung cancer due to smoking, as they have already damaged their lungs due to smoking, without realising the consequences of their behaviour. However stopping smoking even after diagnosis will help their breathing, so I would urge anyone who smokes to stop in order to improve their lung health.”

David Carruthers, medical director of the trust, added: “The trust’s Board, and our clinical leaders, are united in the view that smoking kills. Given that simple truth we can no longer support smoking on our sites, even in shelters or cars. Every alternative is available and we ask visitors and patients to work with us to enforce these changes. Giving up smoking saves you money and saves your health. No more passive smoking on our sites is a public health necessity.”