Smoke-Free Environment Officer introduced at Wrexham Maelor Hospital

A Smoke-Free Environment Officer has been introduced at Wrexham Maelor Hospital to help patients, staff and visitors keep health board sites clear of harmful tobacco smoke.

The dedicated members of staff aim to help reduce smoking on hospital grounds by talking to people who smoke and reminding them about our smoke-free rules.

Smoking outside of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital has been long-running problem.

But since March 2021 smoking at hospital has been banned following the introduction of new laws by the Welsh Government.

Anyone found smoking at any hospital in Wales risks a fine of £100.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board policy also bans the use of vapes or e-cigarettes anywhere on our sites.

As part of their role the Smoke-Free Environment Officer will able to answer questions from visitors, and direct people to the free support to stop smoking available from Help Me Quit.

The health board is also urging those who are approached by the officer to “treat them with courtesy and respect.”

Ian Donnelly, Director of Operations for East Integrated Health Community, said: “We want our hospitals to be healthy places, and places which promote healthy lifestyles – for our patients, for our staff and for the wider community.

“Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable illness and early death in Wales. We are committed to reducing the damage to health caused by smoking, including from exposure to harmful second-hand smoke.

“We know that many people visiting our hospitals may face difficult or challenging circumstances, so our new Smoke-Free Environment Officer will approach anyone found smoking in a friendly and compassionate way – and we also ask the same of our patients, to please respond in a respectful manner.

“I hope these new members of our team can support patients and visitors while reducing tobacco smoke at our hospitals, and making a contribution to tackling preventable disease here in North Wales.”

The officers will work closely with local authority teams – who do have the ability to issue financial penalties, and may visit hospitals to enforce the law.

Help Me Quit offers free one-to-one support from a stop smoking expert either in person or over the phone, plus free stop smoking medicines worth up to £250.