Mayo General Hospital is now a smoke free campus

Mayo General Hospital introduced a smoke free campus policy, today Wednesday 05 March.
 
It is no longer possible to smoke anywhere on the hospital grounds, for example entrances, doorways, walkways, internal roads, car parks, cars, bicycle shelters etc.
 
As a leading healthcare provider, Mayo General Hospital is committed to reducing the use of tobacco and its harmful health effects. The hospital aims to create a healthier, smoke free, clean environment for its patients, staff and visitors.
 
The policy applies to all staff, patients, visitors, contractors and anyone who enters the hospital buildings / grounds.
 
Dr Michael O’Neill, Clinical Director at Mayo General Hospital said, “Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in men and women. In fact lung cancer kills more people than do the next three common cancers combined. Yet lung cancer is almost entirely preventable.
 
“About 1650 people in Ireland die from lung cancer every year. Smoking cigarettes is by far the biggest risk factor and is responsible for 90% of cases. There are over 4000 chemicals in every cigarette and at least 55 are known to cause cancer.
 
“The risk of developing lung cancer is also dose dependent. For example, if you smoke just one cigarette a day, you are three times more likely to get lung cancer than a non-smoker. However, if you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, you are 20 times more likely to get lung cancer than a non-smoker.
 
“Even if you do not smoke, frequent exposure to other people's tobacco smoke, so called ‘passive smoking’ but what I prefer to call ‘involuntarily inhaled second-hand smoke’ can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Research has found that non-smoking women who share their house with a smoking partner are 27% more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smoking women who live with a non-smoking partner.
 
“The HSE has set a target of introducing a Smoke Free Campus Policy to all health campuses by 2015. The HSE has also developed a QUIT campaign to provide supports for people who want to quit smoking. We are supporting patients who want to quit smoking and we are offering smoking cessation advice and support to patients to help them quit smoking or to manage their addiction during their hospital stay.
 
“I urge all doctors and allied health care workers to support the Smoke Free Campus initiative and join with us in sending a clear, strong and unambiguous anti-smoking message.”
 
Charlie Meehan, General Manager says, “The Smoke Free Campus policy will lead to a better health outcome for patients by treating tobacco addiction as a care issue and we are actively promoting smoking cessation to support patients to quit.
 
“The introduction of a Smoke Free Campus policy will take time but the success of this type of policy in other hospitals along with the goodwill of our patients and staff indicates that the majority of people support the policy.
 
“We are able to grant exemptions to the policy for patients in certain circumstances with the input from their Consultant. In this way we may make exceptions for the most vulnerable patients while also encouraging all other patients to adopt healthier tobacco-free lifestyles in order to decrease the incidence of smoking related disease. Providing a smoke free environment sends a clear message that this hospital is committed to protecting and promoting the health of our patients, staff and all who visit Mayo General Hospital.”
 
Photo Details:
Mayo General Hospital introduced a Smoke Free Campus today, 05 March. From left: Austin Gannon, Head Porter, Mayo General Hospital; Brendan Guthrie, Patient Forum, Mayo General Hospital; Claudia Oliveira, Senior Respiratory Technician, Mayo General Hospital; Charlie Meehan, General Manager, Mayo General Hospital; Cllr Noreen Heston, Mayor of Castlebar; Martin Sammon, Nurse Manager, Adult Mental Health Unit, Mayo General Hospital; and Catherine Donohoe, Director of Nursing, Mayo General Hospital.