Butts bug Mums

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 14, 4 September 1984, Page 13

Butts bug Mums

The Cancer Society has come out strongly against medical staff in hospitals around the country who smoke. It argues that many people are in hospital because of smoking, and that therefore it is hypocritical for health care professionals to smoke. The Cancer Society would like to see a total ban on smoking in hospitals. Recently, the Wanganui Hospital Board banned cigarette and tobacco saies but has still maintained special smoking areas, at its base hospital. "But Waimarino Hospital is a small unit and has no such alternatives," said Principal Nurse, Betty Longcroft, recently. Non-smoking mothers at the maternity unit stand very little chance of a breather as although the wards are a 'No Smoking' area, mothers who want to relax or take meals in the nearby day room, must face up to a lungful of fumes. Visitors and patients are entitled to smoke in the day room, and hospital staff also use the area to light up. "The maternity unit day room is pretty confined space-wise," Mrs Longcroft

said, "but its large windows give good ventilation" she added. For non-smoking mothers who use the day-room in winter, the "large windows" offer very little solace. It seems that their complaints will continue to be 'stubbed out' — no butts.