Smoking on hospital property might get a little more expensive depending on a review of its smoking ban.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has had smoke-free property since it opened. But that policy has never been enforced. The hospital held a public meeting on whether to strengthen the ban or modify it Tuesday. With around a dozen people present, those who spoke up seemed to be in favour of strengthening the ban. Currently by-law enforcement officers would need to be called in to issue a provincial fine for people smoking within nine metres of a hospital entrance. Hospital vice-president of chronic disease prevention and management Michael Power said any smoking done past the nine metres would have to be handled by security. That would require training and extra resources.
“Every dollar we invest in enforcement is a dollar that might otherwise might not be invested in a clinic care program,” he said.
Power said he thinks the hospital’s choice to have a property-wide ban was a bold one but now its reflecting on whether it’s what the public wants.
Some at the meeting suggested enforcing the ban could put added stress on patients and family members. Power said he understands that position.
“You do have a patient population that otherwise can have added stress as a result of having to leave the gorunds, family members having to leave the grounds during times of very difficult family duress,” he said. “And the risks associated with sending g our patients out into the cold and off-campus.”
The hospital board will make its decision over the coming months. Another meeting is planned for Jan. 28.
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