A no smoking voice alert system is being piloting at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH which plays pre-recorded messages reminding smokers they are only permitted to smoke in designated smoking shelters.
Adrian Bull, Chief Executive activating the no-smoking button
The system, activated when patients, visitors or staff press a button located in the area, was launched by Chief Executive, Adrian Bull. The system is being installed at the front entrances at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH, outside the maternity department at Conquest Hospital and the Endoscopy/Day surgery entrance at Eastbourne DGH. Depending on the success of the pilot, the system may be installed in other locations around the hospital sites where people regularly smoke cigarettes.
Adrian Bull, ESHT Chief Executive, said: “The messages are designed to inform smokers that they should only smoke in the designated smoking shelters and alert them to positive ways in which we can help them quit for the sake of their health and that of those around them.
“Smoking is an addiction and this system aims to encourage people to quit. We are a healthcare provider and it is really important for us to promote healthy living to our patients, carers, visitors. It is vital we take every possible step to discourage smoking. It is unacceptable for patients and visitors, including new born babies and those arriving via ambulance, to have to pass through cigarette smoke at our hospital entrances. So too is it unacceptable for our staff to have to suffer smoke wafting back into the hospital through open windows.
“We ask patients, visitors and staff, to support this initiative and if they see a person smoking outside one of these entrances that they push one of the buttons to activate the messages to remind the smoker that smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking shelters.”
This new system has been funded by our local commissioners and Public Health at East Sussex County Council.
For information on local stop smoking services contact One You East Sussex – Tel: (01323) 404600. Research shows that with specialised support and a pharmacological product, smokers using this service are four times more likely to succeed than those who try to quit without support.