Ahead of the start of Stoptober this Thursday, CHFT is strengthening its commitment to keeping our sites smoke and vape-free. In the coming weeks, expect to see more spot checks and to be challenged if you smoke or vape in our grounds.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Gemma Berriman, pictured below, explains why a new approach is needed.

Gemma said: “We’ve been a fully smoke and vape free hospital for around five years now, and although we’ve come a long way, we still have a large number of colleagues who use our hospital grounds to smoke and vape, which goes against our Smoking Policy. 

“It’s important that we all role model the behaviours that our patients and visitors would expect as an organisation committed to the long-term health and wellbeing of our local communities.

“Our colleagues strive to deliver high standards of care and compassion every day, yet the perception of our patients and visitors who see colleagues smoking or dirty areas in our grounds where cigarettes are discarded, goes completely against that care and compassion.

“I appreciate that smoking or vaping is a personal decision, but it’s totally unacceptable to do it on site - No Ifs, No Butts.

“In a similar vein, our policy is clear that if colleagues choose to smoke or vape it’s a must do to change out of uniform before leaving our sites to do so. Our professional standards, One Culture of Care and the reputation of the Trust are at the heart of what we all do.

“We know that some of our patients also continue to smoke on site, and we do offer smoking cessation support to support better health outcomes for them as part of their healthcare journey.

If you're planning on quitting smoking, Stoptober is the perfect time to make a change. This October, thousands of people in the UK will stop smoking. The goal is to reach 28 days smoke free. If you can do that, you’re five times more likely to quit for good.

There are also lots of local organisations that can support you.

Pictured left, a pile of cigarette ends outside the main entrance at HRI and a makeshift ashtray under the covered area near the old A&E.