CALL TO RELAX SMOKING BAN AT CITY HOSPITALS

Date Published: 23-May-2012

The chairman of the regional health forum west says the smoking ban enforced in Galway public hospitals should be relaxed.

Speaking at this months regional health forum meeting, Councillor Padraig Conneelly said that he had seen patients hiding in the bushes as he approached Merlin Park hospital last evening.

He said that the blue line policy, which bans smoking on hospital grounds, was not enforceable, and put patients at risk of being hit by a car, as they walked the avenue to the main road.

Patrick O’Sullivan, director of public health, told the meeting it was the role of the HSE to promote health, and to discourage people from doing something that is harmful to their health, and that of others.

He said that exemptions are made for patients, in conjunction with medical staff, but that no exemption would be made for visitors or staff at the Merlin Park hospital.

Councillor Conneelly, himself a smoker, said a more common sense approach was needed, considering the size of the Merlin Park site.