All our hospital sites are now smoke free
Cleaner air for all our patients, visitors and colleagues
Our hospital trust is now smoke free – that means no smoking on any of our grounds, including entrances, car parks, and outdoor areas. This applies to our patients, our staff, our visitors and contractors.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you for helping us care for each other and our shared environment.
Support for you to stop smoking
Our Tobacco Addiction Care and Treatment Service Team is available to support you during your hospital stay. Our team is committed to helping patients and their loved ones remain smoke free and we aim to see all smokers, providing guidance and assistance to promote recovery and wellbeing. If you would like to be seen during your hospital stay, please let the team looking after you know.
Our Smoking in Pregnancy Team also offers support to pregnant women and their families throughout their time with us.
"Our aim is to support pregnant women and their families to quit smoking in a supportive and non-judgmental way, and provide a 'smokefree' start in life for their baby..."
Our dedicated teams are also on hand to support staff to quit smoking.
Can I vape?
Considerate vaping is currently allowed on our grounds but please make sure you are at least three metres away from doors and windows and avoid vaping in front of children.
Why is UHD smoke free?
The NHS increasingly cares for people with long-term health conditions, and we must do more to create an environment that supports healthier choices. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death so we need to take proactive steps to prevent the very diseases we frequently treat.
Even if you don't smoke, exposure to smoke increases health risks for vulnerable patients, children, and non-smokers. By making our hospital 100% smoke free, we are protecting everyone's health and offering support to those who want to quit or temporarily abstain.
"We are here to look after your health and we prioritise the wellbeing of our community, our staff, and our environment - providing a smoke free environment and supporting people to quit is a really important part of that..." Siobhan Harrington, CEO
What illnesses can smoking cause?
– A progressive lung disease that causes breathing difficulties. The risk of COPD doubles for smokers over 35.
– Smoking damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially after 35.
– Smokers over 35 face a dramatically higher risk of developing lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers.
– Smoking increases the risk of complications, low birth weight, and stillbirth.
Help for visitors
If you are a visitor to UHD and are thinking of quitting smoking, please see the fantastic service free for all in the community offered by Live Well Dorset.
For more information please see our LiveWell Dorset support page.
