GPs welcome QA Hospital plans to be '˜smoke free'

TWO of Hampshire's top GPs have welcomed plans to make Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth smoke-free by next year.
QA HospitalQA Hospital
QA Hospital

Dr David Chilvers and Dr Barbara Rushton, the clinical leads for NHS Fareham and Gosport and NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, are both supporting the Smoke Free Portsmouth Hospitals Trust (PHT) Pledge Campaign.

They have both signed pledge forms in support of PHT's commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of its staff, patients and visitors.

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On his form, Gosport GP Dr Chilvers wrote: '˜I want grandparents to be able to play with their grandchildren.'

On her form, Dr Rushton, a Liphook GP, said: '˜It makes sense because stopping smoking improves everyone's healthy living.'

The Cosham hospital still allows smoking in designated areas but from January 14, 2019 it will become a smoke-free site.

The GP's believe going smoke free will not only help protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke but also play a role in increasing the number of people who quit the habit.

Nationally, smoking costs the NHS an estimated £2 billion per year, causes almost 80,000 premature deaths  and contributes to 1.7 million hospital admissions.

 

 

 

 

 

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