To the editor:
I am sending a big thank you to our city council. Thank you for doing the right thing by declaring the hospital property smoke-free.
My name is Keith Taylor and I am co-chair of the volunteer patient-family advisory council.
We were the first of many groups approached to give feedback about the smoke-free grounds policy. I can tell you we had a lot to talk about, as this issue is not as simple as we may have thought.
Our group was definitely supportive of the new policy and even the smokers agreed that this would be the proper thing for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Even the staff had a large majority in favor of the no-smoking rule.
As patient advisors, we also felt that the smokers, both patients and staff, must have access to a variety of therapies to help them cope with quitting or managing their smoking.
We understand that this is going to be difficult for some to deal with, but of all places to be smoke-free, it should be our hospital. I know the hospital receives multiple complaints about people smoking out front every day.
So a tip of the hat to city council for making hospital grounds smoke-free as we all strive to be healthy together.
Keith Taylor,
Thunder Bay
