Smokefree Hospitals

Stopping smoking in hospitals

Every day 1000’s of people across the South West visit hospital either as a patient, visitor or member of staff. Hospital sites are therefore an ideal environment to encourage smokers to review and adjust their smoking behaviour.

If every smoker who was about to undergo an operation was offered support to stop, every South West Acute Trust could save between £200,000 and £1 million annually in bed days due to reduced complications.

Patients, when questioned, expected to be offered support to stop smoking when visiting a hospital. Acute Trusts are also a major employer in the South West but approximately 18-25% of their staff will be smokers.

If staff are supported to stop smoking every South West Acute Trust could save £2-6 million a year through reduced staff sick leave and smoking breaks.

This is why Smokefree South West, working alongside Acute Trusts, is rolling out a major programme of work to help enforce smokefree hospital sites, and increase the number of patients, staff and visitors who make a quit attempt.

How are we doing this?

A protocol smokefree policy has been developed, offering template guidance for Acute Trusts on:

• Maintaining a smokefree site
• Supporting patients, visitors and staff to stop smoking
• Increasing accessibility of nicotine replacement products so that they are
  • Available on all wards
  • Prescribed in pre operative assessment units
  • Available by voucher scheme for staff
  • On sale in hospital shops/pharmacies
• Positioning prominent Smokefree branding
• Encouraging temporary abstinence
• Clear referral and care pathways for planned and emergency admissions
• Human resource management of staff smoking during working hours

If you would like to find out more about the innovative Smokefree Hospital work please Contact Us using the tab above or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Very brief Advice Training

Our field leading 'Very Brief Advice' training is a quick and easy online training resource designed for anyone in regular contact with smokers. After completing the training, participants will have the confidence and knowledge to explain the importance of quitting and how to refer smokers on for further support. We will soon be adding a short film to the end of the online training to demonstrate a practical example of how and where Very Brief Advice can take place.

To view or take the test click www.smokefreesouthwest.org.uk/test or for more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it