Smoke Free Environment Policy Originator:

Jackie Saunders Clinical Services Director

_________________________________________________________________________ Review date:

April 2014

Revision date:

April 2016

_________________________________________________________________________ Approved by:

Clinical Governance Committee

Date of meeting:

9 April 2014

Name of Chair:

Susan Hayter

updated 16/3/15

_________________________________________________________________________ Approved by:

Board of Trustees

Date of meeting:

16th April 2014

Name of Chair:

Adrian Williams

updated 26/3/15

Contents

1.

Policy Statement ............................................................................................................ 3

2.

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3

3.

Statutory Compliance and Evidence ............................................................................... 3

4.

Procedures and Implementation ..................................................................................... 3

5.

Quitting smoking ............................................................................................................ 5

6.

Responsibilities and Accountability ................................................................................. 5

7.

Related Policies / Guidelines .......................................................................................... 5

8.

Monitoring and Review ................................................................................................... 5

9.

References ..................................................................................................................... 5

10. Appendices .................................................................................................................... 5

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1. Policy Statement St Nicholas Hospice Care is concerned to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who receive its services, visit or work in any of our premises or outreach services. We also recognise the realities of personal smoking habits and the way this may especially be expressed for patients and for patient relatives – particularly when there are stressful and difficult situations. Although this policy is concerned with whether anyone smokes, there is also an emphasis on where they smoke and the effect this has on smoking and nonsmoking patients, visitors, staff and other members of the wider community. It is also concerned with the presence of preventable carcinogenic substances.

2. Introduction St Nicholas Hospice Care is an independent charity delivering specialist palliative care to patients and their families within the communities of West Suffolk and Thetford. Care is delivered by a specially trained multidisciplinary team supported by a large team of volunteers to patients within our Sylvan Ward, Community Hospice Team, Orchard and Burton Centres. The organisation also includes an Education Department that delivers palliative care education to the local community, a Fundraising Department that manages a range of fundraising activities and a Retail Section with several shops in the local community staffed by paid staff and volunteers The aim of this Policy is to:  Protect people from the danger of exposure to ‘second hand’* smoke  Comply with health & safety legislation  Protect and improve the health of staff *‘Second hand’ smoke – breathing other people’s tobacco smoke – has now been shown to cause lung cancer and heart disease in non-smokers, as well as many other illnesses and minor conditions. The Hospice acknowledges that breathing other people’s smoke is both a public health hazard and a welfare issue. E-cigarettes and vaping are treated in an identical manner to smoking of tobacco or other herbal substances because their fumes/vapour have not been proven to not be harmful to others. Whenever this document refers to cigarettes it is implicit it means e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other means of inhaling tobacco, nicotine or other herbal materials.

3. Statutory Compliance and Evidence Health and Safety at Work Act Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

4. Procedures and Implementation On Hospice property:  at St Nicholas Hospice,  at the Retail Centre and Hospice shops  at the Burton Centre

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St Nicholas Hospice, Hardwick Lane Despite the health risks, the Hospice does appreciate that some smokers will continue to smoke, and whilst we do not wish to condone smoking, we do not want people smoking covertly or in unsafe areas. Patients who Smoke: The Hospice provides a designated area in its garden for patients who wish to smoke. If a patient requires an escort a family member/friend will be asked to attend; however when this is not possible the staff in the ward and the Orchard Centre will endeavour to be available. Every effort must be made to minimise staff exposure to smoke. If a patient would like to try alternatives to smoking such as nicotine patches the doctors and nurses would be pleased to discuss this with them. Relatives who smoke. Patients’ families are asked to smoke only in the designated smoking shelter at the side of the Hospice. Staff & visitors who smoke: Staff, volunteers, contractors and professional visitors are not allowed to smoke in Hospice buildings or in any of the gardens or grounds. (Smoking is not allowed in the West Suffolk Hospitals car-park either). A smoker may use their break to go off site to smoke but must schedule the break to suit the needs of the service. The smoker must take personal responsibility for their safety should they decide to venture off premises to smoke. Retail Centre and Hospice Shops No smoking is allowed on these sites in accordance with legislation form 2007, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places. The Burton Centre As above, it is illegal to smoke in this public place. Not on Hospice Property Domiciliary visits St Nicholas Hospice Care cannot insist that a patient or family stops smoking in their own home. The visiting member of staff/volunteer can, however, refuse to be in a smoky atmosphere. The professional may seek to ask the family not to smoke for 30 minutes before they visit. If the family decline, the professional may ask another member of staff to visit providing the other person does not mind the smoke. An alternative compromise is to meet the patient at a smoke free venue. It is advised that the professional discusses the situation with peers and manager and documents the means of resolution Cars This policy also applies to Hospice pool cars. It does not apply to the interior of private cars used during working hours unless the owner is giving a lift to another employee, volunteer or patient/service user.

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Public places Where a member of staff smokes in a public place (including in a car) they must ensure that they do not display a uniform, badge or any other means of indicating that they are associated with the Hospice. Smokers must be aware that the smell of cigarette/cigar smoke on clothing can be abhorrent to a non-smoker or to the ill. Smokers must ensure that they prevent such situations occurring.

5. Quitting smoking Our occupational health provider will provide advice and support for staff who wish to quit smoking. Those who wish to stop smoking will be helped to access individual or group support and nicotine replacement therapies as appropriate. Further advice on stopping smoking can be obtained from: • Local NHS Stop Smoking Service 0800 018 4304 • Stop Smoking services at local doctors surgeries • National Don’t Give Up Giving Up helpline 0800 169 0 169

6. Responsibilities and Accountability This policy is authorised by the Chief Executive Officer who will delegate via the Senior Manager Forum responsibility for Policy review and amendments .The Clinical Services Director is responsible for initial review of policy, ensuring that it incorporates appropriate fair and measurable methods of dealing with smoking issues and recommending such changes for final approval by the Board of Trustees. All staff and volunteers are personally responsible for adherence to this policy and its procedural requirements

7. Related Policies / Guidelines Disciplinary Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Fire Policy

8. Monitoring and Review This policy will be reviewed by the Hospice Management and Trustees at 2 yearly intervals, unless an earlier review is required e.g. due to changes in legislation.

9. References none 10. Appendices none

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