Visitors and patients to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital will notice some bright new additions when they visit the Hospital sites this week. The Trust, which has had a smoke free policy since 2006, is looking to remind smokers of the non-smoking rule while offering help to those who want to quit.

 

The project which was initiated by Smokefree South West, is the second of its kind in the region. It involves placing more than 10 giant banners and window vinyls across each Hospital site, fixed to buildings in locations where people go to light up a cigarette. It is the first part of a wider programme of activities which the Trust will be running over the next few months.

 

Sally Pearson, Director of Clinical Strategy explains: “As an NHS organisation, we work to improve the health of local people. Smoking is often an important contributory factor in a range of diseases, including heart disease, respiratory disease and a number of cancers.

 

“It’s important that we address the dangers of smoking and also draw attention to the support which is available to help smokers to manage their habit or to quit. This is why the Trust has approved this new campaign to reinforce the no smoking message on our sites.

 

“We hope that the new banners on site from 9th March will help to reinforce our smokefree message with patients and visitors. They have been designed, printed and installed by Smokefree South West who covered all the costs.”

 

Fiona Andrews, Director of Smokefree South West said: “Most people expect their hospitals to actively promote smoking cessation.

 

“Hospital buildings provide us with an ideal opportunity to promote the service to the wider population of Gloucestershire.

 

“Thousands of people visit the Hospital Trust each year including: 105,000 A&E attendances, 438,000 outpatient attendances, 16,000 inpatient admissions and 72,000 day cases, to say nothing of the number of visitors.

 

“In addition, the Trust employs over 7,000 staff including Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Therapists and Scientists. It’s also estimated that hundreds of cars drive past the Hospitals every day.

 

“These figures show that we have a very significant local audience and the banners are an ideal way of getting the message out there that there is free help and support available for those smokers living in Gloucestershire that want to quit the habit.”