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Our sites are smokefree
Whether you're a patient, visitor, or staff member, you can't smoke on any of our hospital sites. This is to protect vulnerable patients and children from the adverse effects of cigarette smoke.
This includes all side roads, car parks and outdoor areas within our campus boundary. If you wish to smoke, you will need to walk off our site, otherwise you may be challenged by NUH staff. We also remind you that, if you choose to smoke off site, you will need to be mindful of our local neighbours, and we ask that you dispose of cigarette butts and litter in a bin.
Vaping on site
Vaping is allowed on NUH sites for patients, visitors and staff.
The most up-to-date research on the effects of vaping shows it to be 95% safer than smoking (based on research by Public Health England). Vapes contain only a fraction of the chemicals found in tobacco, and a 2014 Public Health England independent evidence review showed that there is no evidence of harm to bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette vapour, and the risks to health are likely to be extremely low.
Unfortunately, due to fire prevention protocol, we are unable to allow patients to charge vapes on our wards and in our hospitals.
Advice for smokers who are in-patients
When you’re admitted to our hospital, the admitting clinician will ask you whether you’re a smoker. We offer all smokers nicotine replacement therapy which usually takes the form of patches and an inhalator (this will be prescribed for you on the ward).
If you are having a planned operation it is best to stop smoking completely before your operation. If you are unable to do this, stopping after your surgery will still benefit your recovery. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood and slows down the rate of wound healing.
As the hospital grounds are smokefree, using nicotine replacement therapy will help you with any cravings whilst you’re admitted. You will also be offered the option of support from our stop smoking advisors, who can visit you at your bedside. They can provide you with additional behavioural support to help you to stay smoke-free once you have left hospital. If you accept additional support from our stop smoking advisors, they can arrange for you to be discharged with two weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. They will then support you for up to twelve weeks over the telephone and arrange for you to continue with your stop smoking medications via your GP or through a local stop smoking service in the community.
You are four times more likely to stay quit using stop smoking medications with the support of a stop smoking advisor.
Concerned about smokers when visiting our site?
You can report individuals smoking on our sites to our Security team. Speak to a member of the front desk team, or ward staff, who can report this on your behalf.