Midlands Hospital Implements Smoke Free Campus

Wednesday, 14 February 2024 15:15

Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore will educate all hospital staff on their role in delivering the new policy.

Today is National No Smoking Day and a Midlands Hospital launched their new Tobacco Free Campus Policy. Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) will not allow smoking or vaping on the hospital campus.

This new policy will be promoted hospital wide through the use of indoor and outdoor signage, audio messaging in the main foyer and visual messaging on screens. The HSE say if you quit smoking for 28 days it makes you 5 times more likely to quit for good.

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. 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.

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.”