In an impressive practical step, the scheme also saw the
replacement of all smoking points with vaping points.
“At Ipswich Hospital, Colchester General Hospital and
Essex County Hospital smoking of tobacco products will
not be allowed in the hospital or its grounds… Vaping, using
e-cigarettes, will be allowed only in designated places in
the hospital’s grounds.”
We’re four months into 2018 and already our calendars
have been marked with some essential dates with National
No Smoking Day on March 14 and World Health Day
falling on April 7. It’s very encouraging to see the full
one-two punch of smoking cessation at work, reducing
combustible cigarette use and then replacing them with a
viable, significantly less harmful alternative in a controlled
environment which doesn’t clamp down on their use.
Officially, all the named sites had long ago gone smoke-
free, but Clare Edmondson, director of human resources
at the hospital said this policy wasn’t being adequately
enforced and made sure the necessary steps were taken
to bring it to fruition. Now, over a year since its launch, after
being met with the same uncertainty and hand-wringing
that much pro-vaping initiatives face, the organisers can
safely call it a success.
The merger of Colchester and Ipswich hospitals was
announced last November. In this time, the newly merged
entity has seen – according to Ms. Edmondson – a “huge
reduction” in its smoking rates.
There are two encouraging paths this development can
open-up for the vaping industry at large. The first is in
recognising the power found in Public Health England’s
evidence update, which is also covered in this issue. PHE’s
update has reinforced the validity of the powerful “95% less
harmful” statistic which has aided vape industry allies. The
second is an encouraging display of positive results from
pursuing closer ties between institutions of public health
and the vape industry.
“AT IPSWICH HOSPITAL, COLCHESTER GENERAL
HOSPITAL AND ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL
SMOKING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED IN THE HOSPITAL OR ITS GROUNDS…
VAPING, USING E-CIGARETTES, WILL BE
ALLOWED ONLY IN DESIGNATED PLACES IN
THE HOSPITAL’S GROUNDS.”
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