Smoke-free

The West Suffolk Hospital site is a smoke-free zone.

The West Suffolk Hospital is proud to be a completely smoke-free zone. This means that you must not smoke anywhere on our premises, including buildings, grounds, and car parks. Our aim is that:

• Patients have a smoke-free stay
• Staff have a smoke-free shift
• Visitors have a smoke-free visit
• West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has a smoke-free future.

Why we’re a smoke-free zone

In September 2024 the Trust board signed the NHS Smokefree Pledge recognising the harm that smoking causes leading to premature death, disability and disease in our population. The Trust is committed to helping and supporting people to be smoke-free whilst using our services and longer-term if they attempt to quit.

What this means for you

Whether you're visiting, working, or receiving care on the West Suffolk Hospital site:

• You must not smoke anywhere on West Suffolk Hospital property
• Support is available to remain smoke-free whilst using our services
• Support is available for those who wish to quit smoking for good
• Vaping is not allowed near any windows or doors
• West Suffolk Council has designated smoking areas on Hardwick Heath.

We kindly ask that you respect our Smoke-free Zone and help us maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Health and safety

The Health and Safety Executive specifies that:

…priority should be given to the needs of non-smokers not wanting to breathe second-hand smoke.”

While we encourage everyone to follow the policy, we understand that some situations may be difficult. If you smoke whilst using our services, you can expect to be approached by NHS colleagues, who will:

• explain you must not smoke whist in the Smoke-free Zone
• politely ask you to move to a smoking area
• advise that the best way to stop smoking is with nicotine replacement therapy and support
• offer immediate help and support or referral to a specialist tobacco dependence adviser
• give you contact details for the community stop smoking services.

Violence and aggression will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the Trust’s procedure for managing unacceptable behaviour by patients, service users and members of the public.

It is also important to know that smoking and/or cigarette lighters are one of the three most common causes of fire in the NHS.

Support to remain smoke-free

We understand that staying smoke-free and quitting smoking can be hard. We’re here to help. All inpatients, maternity service users, people visiting our emergency department or outpatient clinics and all our colleagues across the NHS can get advice and support on being smoke-free from our team of tobacco dependence advisers. They will assess your needs and offer free treatment and support including:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Vape starter kits
• Other stop smoking support packages
• Behavioural support and advice
• Referrals to local stop smoking services.

If you’re thinking of giving up smoking and would like to start sooner and find out what options are available, you can contact your local stop smoking service:

• Suffolk: Feel Good Suffolk
• Norfolk: Smoke-free Norfolk
• Essex: Essex Wellbeing Service
• Cambridgeshire: Healthy You

Finally, the NHS Better Health website has additional information and resources to help you plan your quit, as well as a service finder if you don’t live locally.

Smoke-free policy

The Trust policy is in line with the most recent evidence, practice standards and government ambition to create a ‘Smoke-free Generation’ by 2030¹. The policy outlines how the Trust will promote and support a healthy environment free from tobacco use for all who use WSFT services, premises, or work at the Trust.

This policy applies to all employees and colleagues including temporary or agency, visitors, contractors, and volunteers, and patients and service users on acute sites and community settings including patient’s homes whilst WSFT colleagues are present and business cars/vehicles.

Help us stay smoke-free

You can help by:

• Not smoking in the Smoke-free Zone
• Supporting others to be smoke-free
• Reporting any concerns to PALS (Patient advice and liaison service)

With your help, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust can achieve a Smoke-free Future. Together we will have a safer and healthier place for all.