BEAUMONT Hospital is now a tobacco-free campus.
The hospital will prohibit smoking on the campus in a move to create a healthy, clean and safer environment for patients, staff and visitors.
The move to go tobacco-free across the campus follows extensive work by a multi-disciplinary steering committee and working groups.
The policy was designed in response to the ongoing concern about the harmful effects of tobacco use and smoking in a healthcare environment.
The HSE Corporate Plan (2008-2011) recognises the need for a shift towards prevention and better self care in respect of tobacco.
Research and experience shows that this requires ongoing health awareness, illness prevention and health promotion initiatives as well as population health strategies.
The Tobacco-Free steering committee was chaired by Professor Gerry McElvaney, Director of the Respiratory Research Laboratory RCSI/Beaumont Hospital and supported by Beaumont chief executive Liam Duffy and the senior management team.
The committee developed the policy in response to the HSE Corporate Plan as a measure to protect Beaumont Hospital site users from the dangers associated with smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Liam Duffy said that as a major health service provider and hospital, it was their obligation to provide a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.
“The transition to a smoke-free campus is one that Beaumont feels is a necessary and natural step in continuing to provide safe and effective health care,
? stated Mr Duffy.
“We have been working with the steering committee and staff over a number of months to ensure that the transition will be seamless and have found great support from all involved.
Prof Gerry McElvaney, chair of the Tobacco Free Steering Committee, described the move as a positive step for Beaumont Hospital.
“The rationale for the move is very simple,
? said Prof McElvaney.
“Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death and there is a growing recognition throughout the developed world that allowing smoking on healthcare campuses significantly undermines the health promotion message of healthcare organisations.
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