11 reasons to get involved in the smoke-free policy of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals

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11 reasons to get involved in the smoke-free
policy of the European Network for Smoke-free
Hospitals
Why get involved in the hospital smoke-free
policy ?
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1- Tobacco control is clearly included in
hospital duties

• Hospitals have the following missions
• provision of care
• prevention
• research and training
• These missions should be included in all hospital
  tobacco control policies.

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2- The involvement of administrative managers is
essential

• Smoke-free policy (as any hospital policy)
  requires express involvement of the hospitals
  management.
• Medical and administrative management have to be
  involved.
• Involvement does mean that they do all the work
• To be meaningful, the involvement has to be
  supported by medical management.

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3- It is possible to start the smoke-free policy
even with no initial budget

• Starting the smoke-free policy does not require a
  specific budget (although it would be desirable
  in order to obtain staff work time, to organise
  specific events and to spread documents).
• In the first stage, it is only necessary to
  mobilise some staff work time.

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4- Smoke-free Hospital is a dynamic process and
not a status each hospital has its own rhythm

• Do not be afraid of the slowness of the process,
  but be afraid of its immobility.

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5- Smoking-related fires can engage a hospitals
administrative responsibility

• Fires started due to the smoking by staff,
  patients and visitors are the first cause of fire
  in the hospital.
• Hospital management is liable for this.

Cigarette-related fires in the hospitals (source
AP-HP)
42
58
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6- The absence of a smoke-free policy can
generate conflicts in rest rooms

• The non-smokers right to be in smoking-free areas
  has to be requested by the non-smokers
  themselves.
• When suffering from withdrawal symptoms and not
  receiving NRT, smokers in smoke-free areas can
  become aggressive or smoke where it is
  prohibited. It, therefore, creates conflicts
  between smokers and non smokers.

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7- A hospital with no smoke-free policy is often
less clean than a smoke-free hospital

• Cigarette ends damage floors and make them dirty.
• Walls get dirty more rapidly in smoking areas.
• A clean hospital is a smoke-free hospital.

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8- A well thought out smoke-free policy helps to
motivate staff in a positive way

• 3/4 of non-smoking staff declare that smoke is a
  nuisance to them.
• 1/2 of smokers declare that other peoples smoke
  is a nuisance to them.
• A smoke-free hospital is not against smokers, who
  in many cases would like to stop but cannot
  because they are dependant and need help
  quitting.
• Proposing a smoke-free hospital can initiate a
  strong positive project to mobilise all staff.

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9- Floors, computers, air conditioning units
operate longer in a smoke-free environment

• Electronic devices more often go out of order in
  smoking areas. The inside of a computer or an
  electronic device in a smoking area is a lot
  dirtier than in a smoke-free area.

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10-For visitors, the hospital image is better

• A smoke-free hospital is a clean hospital
• A hospital where a tobacco control policy is
  implemented is a hospital where patients health
  needs are globally considered.
• A hospital where staff members are seen smoking
  is perceived as irresponsible, as a hospital that
  cannot treat its own problems.

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11- Smoke-free policy is a positive point leading
towards hospital accreditation
Mrs Magda Aelvoet nn Mrs Gisela
Stuart Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to
Health Ministry Department of Health Richmond
House Whitehall 79 LONDON SW1A 2NS
UNITED-KINGDOM Tel [phone] Fax 44
207 210 5410 Paris, May 30th 2001 Dear
Madam, During the latest meeting of the European
Network of Smoke-free Hospitals, it appeared to
the twelve participating countries that European
hospitals were, at various stages, under
accreditation procedure, but only one country
(France) included smoking criteria. The French
experience, which included three smoking
criterias in hospitals accreditation procedure,
shows the efficiency of such simple measures. The
three criteria concern Implementation of a
smoke-free policy within the hospital (European
Code herewith included) Providing help and
assistance to smokers willing to cease
smoking Fire safety. We would be very much
interested in knowing if you have already started
such a procedure, of which we have not yet been
informed, or if you plan to implement it in the
near future. May 31st, International Tobacco-free
day, would be a symbolic date in order to
announce such a measure within your
country. Should you request any further
information, feel free to contact me, Yours
faithfully, Pr. Bertrand Dautzenberg ENSH
Coordinator
Most European hospital are under accreditation
process. Directly or not, tobacco is taken into
account in hospitals evaluation.