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Agency
highlights worldwide concern at tolerance for smoking
The Health
Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland today added its voice
to the many organisations and individuals who have expressed
deep concern at the decision of the Royal Victoria Hospital
to build seven rooms in the hospital to facilitate smoking.
Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive, who has just returned from a meeting
at the World Health Organization headquarters in Copenhagen,
highlighted the concern that has been expressed by health
organisations and officials across the world at this decision.
He said
“The Royal Victoria Hospital deservedly has a worldwide
reputation for the quality of its work. It has been at the
front line of pioneering work in healthcare and, with colleagues
from other hospitals in Northern Ireland, has worked tirelessly
to restore and improve the health of everyone who has needed
their help through some very difficult times.
“It
is because of its reputation for excellence in healthcare
that the hospital’s decision to build rooms to facilitate
smoking, for the minority of the population who smoke, has
caused shock among those who have been working hard to send
out a clear message that smoking is one of the biggest threats
to our health. To have a top hospital feel that it must accommodate
this habit rather than encourage and support people in giving
up smoking is hugely disappointing. It also undermines the
excellent work of newer, more local hospitals which have taken
a clear stand against allowing smoking in any of their buildings.
“Colleagues
from organisations across Europe and as far away as Australia,
Canada and America are dismayed by what they regard as a backward
step by a high profile organisation, which damages the credibility
of much of their work carried out over many years. The dangers
of smoking to smokers themselves as well as the harm to others
through passive smoking has been well documented.
“The
Health Promotion Agency recognises the damage caused by smoking
and also the difficulty some smokers have in giving up their
habit. A lot of work by the Agency and its partner organisations
has therefore gone into highlighting the urgent need to stop
smoking and into providing a range of advice and information
to ensure that everything possible is done to create a supportive
environment to help people stop. We have been promoting a
clear message that smoking is very harmful. Feedback from
our work has shown that people are responding to this message
and many are taking positive steps to stop. We must not allow
mixed messages to undermine the progress that has been made.”
Dr Gaffney
concluded:
“I would urge the Board members at the Royal Group of
Hospitals to reconsider their decision in the light of the
concern expressed by so many professionals and members of
the public. Our overriding concern is the health of the population
we serve and this will only be achieved if people are given
clear, unambiguous messages on issues that can affect their
health. The Royal Victoria Hospital has a duty to ensure its
position, and reputation, is further enhanced by taking a
lead role in demonstrating how a hospital can promote good
health as well as treat and care for those who are ill.”
END
Notes
to editors:
- Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the
Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland will be available
for interview from 7am on 2 May 2003. To arrange an interview
please contact Sinead Curran on 07802 299945.
For further information:
Contact
Jenny Dougan at the Health Promotion
Agency on 028 9031 1611.
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