Voice from above will tell smokers not to smoke
13/06/2007
Smokers who light up outside Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital will hear a voice from above reminding them not to smoke on the grounds.
Later this month, the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which runs both Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital will install new talking alarms above its entrances as a new way of reminding smokers to stub out their cigarettes.
At the main entrances a flame-activated alarm will be in operation. When a smoker lights up, they will hear a voice asking them to extinguish their cigarette.
And just in case smokers miss the signs or do not hear the alarm, the Trust is also painting no smoking signs on the grounds immediately outside the Tower Entrance at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital - a number one hotspot.
It is hoped these new measures will help.
Sally Pearson, Director of Clinical Strategy said, "In March 2006 we became completely smoke-free, adopting a persuasive approach to a new policy that banned smoking inside our buildings and on our grounds. This has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of smokers lighting up. However we know that there is a small number of people who are continuing to smoke on our grounds despite our signs and attempts from our staff to encourage them to stop. We also know there is a particular problem around the entrances to our hospitals and as a consequence we've continued to look at new ways of enforcing the ban, of which the talking alarms play a part."
Jane Williamson a chronic asthmatic from Stroud says she welcomes any approach that would stop smokers from lighting up. Jane, 59, who visits the hospital for appointments added, “The Trust has taken the right step by wanting to end smoking on site for the benefit of people like me. I don’t look ill, so smokers may not think they are harming me, but cigarette smoke does harm me. If I have to go past people who are smoking my chest tightens up, I lose my voice and I become very tired. My condition deteriorates rapidly and I can become extremely ill, just like that. Hospitals exist to make people better, so it’s disappointing that some inconsiderate smokers are making me take a chance with my health when I attend my hospital.
“I like the idea of the talking alarms. Anything that can catch people’s attention and make them aware of the ban is a good thing.”
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