Smoke free hospitals: Example was set in Canada

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7406.104-b

BMJ 2003;327:104 (12 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7406.104-b

Letter

Smoke free hospitals

Example was set in Canada

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—McKee et al put the case for smoke free hospitals.¹At St Joseph's Health Care in London, Ontario, we used to havesmoking in the surgeons' lounge and in a designated smokingroom for patients. Now, patients who have "bad chests" andwho smoke are made to stop if they wish to have elective procedures.Anaesthetists will cancel operations if this is not adheredto.

About five years ago all smoking in this hospital disappeared.Non-medical members of staff smoked at the outpatient entrance,as did a few desperate patients in wheelchairs, often withintravenous drips.

This practice was made illegal by hospital bylaw. Now neitherstaff nor patients smoke within 30 feet (10 m) of the hospital.Cigarette ends in disused corridors have gone.

The city of London followed by making smoking illegal in allrestaurants and public places. Bars have to decide whetherthey serve food. . . . [Full text of this article]

Colin M Mailer, associate non-teaching staff

Hospital Department of Ophthalmology, St Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON, Canada N6A 4V2 collin@rogers.com