Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A MOVE TO exempt some nursing home residents from the HSE’s smoke free campuses policy has been welcomed by Age Action.
The HSE confirmed earlier today that residents in both nursing homes and patients of public psychiatric facilities at all HSE sites in the Midlands will still be able to smoke on the premises.
However, the ban will still apply to staff and other patients.
In a statement this evening, Age Action said it was “satisfied that this flexible approach” had been adopted.
“There were good reasons why nursing homes and psychiatric facilities were exempt from the original smoking ban, and these reasons have not changed,” Head of Advocacy Eamon Timmins said.
The benefits of forcing these older people to cease smoking must be balanced against the hardship it will cause for older people who have smoked for many years and some of whom have dementia and other psychiatric conditions.
The HSE previously said that all hospitals are to be included in the smoke free campus policy by the end of 2015.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
A concession to human frailty? A common sense approach? I never thought i’d live to see the day. Credit where credit is due – well done she.
When you have reach the age in your life that you end up in a home, you should at least be given the dignity of living out your remaining time in peace and comfort and not end up fretting about having to walk or have someone push you in your chair to the gates of your home everytime you want to have a smoke.
Totally agree.
‘Smoke free campuses’ are so stupid. Let’s ban smoking outside all over our grounds, ooh we better remove the ash tray bins as that will make people break the ban. A few days later….. “Why are there so many cigarette butts all over the ground?” Morons.
It would be quite unfair if they didn’t exempt these, especially psychiatric hospitals since not everyone there has the choice to leave the grounds..
It’s still not aloowed inside you’re pushing your luck asking people to walk out to paths! In Merlin park Galway it’s about 1km to the “blue line”.
For every one of these patients who smoke the Nursing Home is their permanent home and this Supervisory Body is effectively bullying them.
Life is tough enough but to be put out in the cold or told you can Ni longer smoke in your own home is a disgusting piece of behaviour and minor concessions in some areas are simply not acceptable. These patients should be able to smoke indoors with restrictions only placed on them in terms of affecting non smoking patients.
Hse facilitating smoking- disgraceful
@jimjor
I think ur attempting a wind up, however people in nursing homes, mental patients and those suffering from depression and addiction, need to be allowed to smoke to cope with their illness.
If you and the anti smoking lobby want to do something constructive, why not canvass to reduce the price and zeroise vat on nicorette type products and electric cigarettes.
Tobacco companies can be levied with the cost, as they are ultimately responsible for encouraging people to smoke up to the late 80′s.
have your say