The Scottish Government has put a nationwide ban in place meaning that anyone who smokes within 15 metres of a hospital building could be fined.
This is the latest step in the Scottish Government’s plan to create a tobacco free Scotland by 2034 and supports the voluntary smoke-free hospital grounds policy introduced in 2015.
The new law will apply to NHS hospital settings used for the treatment and care of patients and includes a ban on lighting up beneath overhanging structures.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said:
“Everyone knows that smoking is bad for our health and hospital patients in particular should be protected from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“This new law is the latest step in our bold plan to make Scotland tobacco-free by 2034 – building on our dedicated stop-smoking services and early intervention measures to stop youngsters picking up the habit altogether.
“Anyone looking to quit can contact the NHS QuitYourWay Helpline or speak to their local pharmacy to discuss the range of help available.”
ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:
“Extending current legislation to include outdoor areas will have the positive impact of protecting people from the harmful effects of breathing in toxic tobacco smoke through vents, windows or doorways while they are being treated and recovering in hospital.
“We urge people who smoke to be considerate in remaining outside the 15-metre perimeter, ensuring hospital patients do not face unnecessary additional risks to their health caused by inhaling harmful substances.
“This is particularly important as Scotland challenges the normalisation of smoking on our journey towards becoming tobacco-free.”
The penalty is either a fixed penalty of £50 or a fine of up to £1,000 if a case goes to court.
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Good. I am very relieved that this at last has happened, and I hope that it will be implemented. Yesterday I had just had my Chemo (for an incurable cancer, meaning that I will always be on chemo now) & was waiting outside just outside the entrance doors to the Cancer Centre at the Western General, to be picked up by a kind friend. And no sooner had I got there, than a lady came out of the doors, stood about 3m away from me, and lit up. I know she probably NEEDED that tobacco high urgently, but it is just very hard when one is fighting cancer & on constant treatment (including a failed bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy, chemo, many blood and platelet transfusions etc) that people light up JUST outside the many entrance doors to the Western General, which is also exactly where cancer patients are often waiting for help with getting home after treatment. So I hope that this idea perhaps works, though WHO will have the time to police it, I’m not quite sure, considering how totally worked after their feet the NHS staff are, at the moment.
I am so very sorry to hear that you are ill and that this happened to you. Hopefully it will now be a thing of the past at hospitals – but it will depend on enforcement of course.
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