The ban on smoking introduced by Western Health Trust at all its sites, including Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, has received the backing of the chairperson of the Stormont Health Commitee, Derry Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin.
Respiratory consultant Martin Kelly demolishes the smoking shelter at Altnagelvin Hospital.
From today, patients, staff and visitors are no longer allowed to smoke at the entrance of Trust buildings, car parks or inside their own cars on Trust premises.
The Western Trust is the first health authority in the North to ban smoking in its grounds.
The new rule has been introduced to coincide with No Smoking Day.
Ms McLaughlin said the move was an “important initiative.”
She added: “Smoking is proven to be detrimental to your health and treating the effects of smoking is costing the health service millions of pounds each year.
“It is therefore important that we move to encourage people to stop smoking and this initiative is a step in the right direction.”
Ms McLaughlin concluded: “I would appeal to health staff, patients and visitors to respect this directive and refrain from smoking on Western Health Trust property.”
Tags: