On National No Smoking Day Tullamore Hospital launches a new Tobacco Free Campus policy

This Ash Wednesday is National No Smoking Day and to mark this occasion, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) officially launched their new Tobacco Free Campus Policy backed by a range of support services to help people who want to stop smoking.

The hospital is proud to be a smoke free campus since 2013. However, in order to implement national policy objectives contained in Healthy Ireland, Tobacco Free Ireland and the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, and to protect staff, service users and visitors from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke, the HSE has adopted an official corporate Tobacco Free Campus Policy which the hospital now adheres to.

This now means for patients, visitors and staff that there is no place to smoke or use e-cigarettes or vape while you are on the hospital campus.

The hospital campus includes all hospital buildings, outside areas, carparks and vehicles parked in the carparks.

This new policy will be promoted hospital wide through the use of indoor and outdoor signage, audio messaging in the main foyer, visual messaging on screens, along with an education and information plan for all hospital staff outlining their roles and responsibilities in the support of this new policy.

Theresa Rennick, Chairperson MRHT Tobacco Free Campus stated “The new policy has two clear aims; treating tobacco as a healthcare issue and to denormalise tobacco use in our healthcare setting.

For patients, with this is mind we ask you to not smoke, use e-cigarettes or vape anywhere on campus during your time in Tullamore hospital. If you are a smoker please speak to your nurse or doctor today about what support options are available to you while you are a patient in our care.”

She adds, “You will be supported to suspend your smoking while in the hospital, from the Emergency Department to out-patients, to your stay as an in-patient. Talk to your doctor or nurse about availing of free stop smoking medications as soon as you arrive and when you feel you need them.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) -replacement patches, lozenges, inhalers and mouth sprays can ease your cravings and make you comfortable, while in our hospital. NRT are licensed medicines which give you a low level of nicotine. These medicines do not contain the other poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke.

If you want to remain smoke free after you are discharged, hospital staff will provide you with information on support services and make a referral to a for you.”

Visitors to the hospital and staff of the hospital are encouraged to take back control this National No Smoking Day. Smoking is highly addictive but you can take back control with the right support. Quitting smoking for 28 days makes you 5 times more likely to quit for good.

Fiona Murphy, Head of Service Health & Wellbeing, Midlands Louth Meath CHO has commended Tullamore hospital on the launch of their new Tobacco Free campus policy, ‘Well done to all involved. It is important that HSE services are exemplars in providing tobacco and vape free spaces for staff and service users. Smoke Free Campus policies ensure an environment that promotes and protects health, and supports those who want to stop smoking. Stopping smoking, at any age, is one of the most important things a person can do to improve their health. We are very pleased that stop smoking services are available in Offaly at MRHT and through our health promotion and improvement stop smoking clinics in the community in Tullamore and Birr.” Contact laoisoffaly.quit@hse.ie

As a major provider of healthcare in the region, Brendan Cuskelly Engineering Officer Laois Offaly, MRHT Senior Management Team outlined how the Hospital is taking its responsibility around health promotion and illness prevention very seriously, “Our hospital Tobacco Free Campus Committee members are doing all that they can to encourage everyone on hospital campus to adopt healthier tobacco-free lifestyles in order to decrease the incidence of smoking related disease. Providing a smoke free environment and having no designated space to smoke on campus sends a clear message that this hospital is committed to protecting and promoting the health of our patients, staff and all who visit Tullamore Hospital.”

It is never too late to quit. By availing of the available one-to-one supports, as well as the medications, you are four times more likely to quit, even if you have tried many times before. You can find the clinic nearest to you on the Quit.ie website.