Media information For immediate use Smoke-free message is taken all over Ayrshire All grounds throughout NHS Ayrshire & Arran are now smoke-free. That’s the message that staff, visitors and patients turned out in force to support on Monday 30 March. People from all over Ayrshire joined NHS staff at launch events to welcome the move to smoke-free grounds. Dr Carol Davidson, Director of Public Health, took the lead in launching the new policy when she toured Ayrshire’s hospitals. Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board joined with Carol in celebrating the move to smoke-free grounds before she set off to visit hospitals in Ayr, Cumnock and Kilmarnock. Staff, visitors and patients greeted Dr Davidson at University Hospital Ayr where new flowers have been planted to celebrate the new cleaner hospital grounds. Cumnock Academy pupils joined with Dr Davidson at East Ayrshire Community Hospital in appealing for people to wait until they are off NHS grounds before smoking. At University Hospital Crosshouse, more than 20 people had the opportunity to speak with Dr Davidson about the move to smoke-free grounds. They saw first-hand the new smoke- free grounds signage on display throughout the hospital. Elaine Young, Assistant Director for Public Health, took the message with her when she visited Girvan Community Hospital. And Biggart Hospital staff enthusiastically welcomed the move to smoke-free grounds. Media information For immediate use Finally, Partnership Facilitator, Stewart Donnelly, visited North Ayrshire when he helped launch the new policy at the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine. This ambitious move to achieve smoke-free status in the grounds of every hospital, health centre and NHS building across the country is part of a national drive to create a tobacco free generation within Scotland by 2034. Dr Carol Davidson, Director of Public Health, said: “I would like to thank everyone who came along and supported the launch of our smoke-free grounds. “The drive to make our NHS grounds smoke-free is a vital step in helping us achieve a smoke-free generation within the next 20 years. “Essentially we are asking smokers to wait until they are off our grounds before lighting up. We are on hand to give support and advise on how to manage their smoking, including quitting. This is available to everyone by telephoning our Fresh Air-shire smoking cessation and prevention service on 0800 783 9132.” Dr Davidson continued: “Our commitment to going smoke-free extends to all our premises, hospitals, health centres and other community facilities, together with NHS offices and other non-patient buildings. “NHS Ayrshire & Arran has a duty of care to protect the health of, and promote health behaviours among, people who use or work in our services. This is why we are determined to make our premises and grounds smoke-free.” Ends Vox pop – Why do you support smoke-free grounds on NHS Ayrshire & Arran? Media information For immediate use University Hospital Crosshouse – 300315SFGxh11 Jillian Connell, Smoking Prevention and Cessation Programme Lead, said: “A lot of the work I do with Fresh Air-shire is to promote health and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Our grounds going smoke-free sets a great example and spreads the smoke-free message even further.” East Ayrshire Community Hospital, Cumnock – 300315SFGcumnock6 Miss Claire Jagodowski, Acting Principle Teacher of Guidance at Cumnock Academy: “I think it’s extremely beneficial to have a positive attitude towards keeping hospital grounds clean and healthy. It also has a positive impact on the environment and our community.” Biggart Hospital, Prestwick – photo 300315SFGbiggart11 Lorraine Sheridan (52) from Saltcoats is a Clinical Nurse Manager at Biggart Hospital. She said: “I really support the move to smoke-free grounds as it fits with our organisation’s purpose – the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran. And I absolutely believe that not having smoking on our grounds supports this.” Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine – photo 300315SFGach6 Jacqueline Downs (44) from Ayr is the Rehabilitation Co-ordinator and Managed Clinical Network Manager at the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre. She said: “We are the health services and our main focus is to improve health. I just don’t believe that people should be smoking outside of hospitals.” Photos – tour of smoke-free grounds launch events throughout Ayrshire 300315SFGayr12 – Dr Carol Davidson is joined by staff, visitors and volunteers as they welcome the move to smoke-free grounds at University Hospital Ayr and Ailsa Hospital. 300315SFGayr14 – the new smoke-free grounds sign is clearly visible as people drive into University Hospital Ayr 300315SFGbiggart3 – Staff at Biggart hospital proudly display the new signs declaring that Biggart Hospital is now a smoke-free zone 300315SFGBoard – Ayrshire and Arran NHS board launch the move to smoke-free grounds. Left to right: Dr Carol Davidson, Director of Public Health; John Callaghan, Employee Director; Dr Martin Cheyne, Chairman; Kirsty Darwent, Vice Chair; John Burns, Chief Executive and Elaine Young, Assistant Director of Public Health 300315SFGcrosshouse9 – Dr Carol Davidson is joined by staff, visitors and volunteers at University Hospital Crosshouse. Media information For immediate use 300315Cumnock7 – Pupils from Cumnock Academy helped launch the new policy at East Ayrshire Community Hospital with Dr Carol Davidson 300315SFGgirvan5 – Elaine Young, Assistant Director of Public Health, is joined by staff, paramedics and Hospital Patient Council member Joy Tomlinson at Girvan Community Hospital 303015SFGach3 – Staff from the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine welcome Stewart Donnelly, Partnership Facilitator for the launch of smoke-free grounds Date of release: Tuesday 31 March 2015 For further media enquiries about this topic, please contact: Luan Johnston Communications Officer NHS Ayrshire & Arran University Hospital Crosshouse Kilmarnock KA2 0BB Telephone: 01563 826111 Out-of-hours: 07769 648975 [email protected] www.nhsaaa.net Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nhsaaa Follow us on Twitter @NHSaaa .