The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust plans to ban smoking across all its sites, including Lister Hospital in Stevenage and the New QEII in Welwyn Garden City. (Image: Google Maps)
A smoking ban is set to be implemented across the entire sites at Lister Hospital in Stevenage and the New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City.
Michael Chilvers, medical director at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which runs Lister and the New QEII, said a plan is being developed that will take approximately 12 months to implement.
He said it will support staff with smoking cessation, implement safe areas to vape and ensure all patients and visitors are given notice of the smoking ban.
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"If it was a directive at short notice, it would encourage people to smoke in corners that may not be suitable," Mr Chilvers explained.
He confirmed the smoking ban will be across all sites run by the NHS trust.
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