| Robin Hunter, UNISON spokesman, was speaking in the aftermath of the events at Ninewells Hospital yesterday, when around 100 people openly flouting the new, extended ban.
They new policy, introduced yesterday, had been described as nonsensical and unenforceable. Smoking by all staff, contractors, visitors and outpatients within NHS Tayside buildings and grounds was effectively outlawed.
Mr Hunter believes the policy has created a ridiculous situation, leaving the door open for people to ignore the ban.
“There has been no more demonstration or anything like that. But in reality, it is inevitable there will still be flouters,” he said. “Irrespective of the rights and wrongs, that is what’s going to happen. You only have to think how big the Ninewells site is to see how impossible it would be to police it in any meaningful kind of way.
“The health board, if it chooses, has sanctions — disciplinary action against its own employees for flouting it.”
As for the threat of disciplinary action or even the sack for flouters, Mr Hunter said such notions have never been uttered.
“There were no threats of disciplinary action at all yesterday. It lurks but it was not made. To get heavy-handed at the start would not help anybody.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said the authority was trying to adopt a “softly, softly” approach towards stubbing out the practice.
She said there was no suggestion people would lose their jobs because they had been caught taking a fly puff.
Despite this, Mr Hunter maintains the authority needs to get together with the union to discuss a more commonsense approach to the smoking ban.
Dr Drew Walker, director of public health, later issued a statement defending the smoking policy.
“Smoking is the biggest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Scotland,” he said.
“The smoking policy put into place yesterday has been widely debated, with staff representatives consulted over a long period of time.
“NHS Tayside has a responsibility to show leadership through its actions and policies to promote the continued improvement of health and well-being for everyone, including our own staff.
“We have no intention of being heavy- handed over this policy as we know that smoking is an addiction, and both patients and staff will be given as much help and support as possible now that this policy has been introduced.
“The new legislation on smoking in public places has been a major step forward and, already, the majority of people in Scotland don’t smoke.
“We know that most people who continue to smoke would like to stop.” |
