Visitor fuming over smokers lighting up outside Frankston Hospital
An angry visitor has slammed ‘disgusting’ smokers defying the law and lighting up outside the Frankston Hospital emergency department.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
FRANKSTON Hospital’s healthy environment is going up in smoke, says an irate visitor.
Shirley Symons is fuming after copping cigarette smoke while visiting at the hospital.
“It’s disgusting to see patients sitting directly under the ‘No Smoking’ sign and smoking,” she said.
“It stinks and also right in front of the emergency department.
“I asked at reception and the receptionist said they can’t do anything.”
FRANKSTON HOSPITAL EXPANSION ESSENTIAL FOR GROWTH
PENINSULA HEALTH TO LOBBY GOV FOR $200-$300M
Ms Symons said on another occasion she was walking into the hospital when a visitor called on smokers to butt out — only to cop verbal abuse.
The complaint follows a highly publicised attack in which a surgeon, Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann, was punched and subsequently died following a dispute over smoking in a designated non-smoking area outside the Box Hill Hospital foyer in May last year.
Peninsula Health executive director Lyn Jamieson said the organisation was committed to working towards a smoke-free environment at all its sites.
“We strongly encourage everyone to observe our no-smoking policy on Peninsula Health grounds,” she said.
JEWELLERY DESIGNER’S HOME A RARE GEM
DRUG THUG FOUND GUILTY ON 50 CHARGES
Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White said Peninsula Health was proactive about smoking and had liaised with her organisation about what they could do to support patients to manage nicotine withdrawal while in hospital and to help them make a plan to quit smoking.
“Smoking outside of hospitals is particularly problematic as second-hand smoke can aggravate health conditions such as asthma,” Dr White said.
“Our recommendation is that hospital security approach people and ask them politely, to not smoke near the entrances.
“Most people move on when they realise the impact their smoking is having on others.”
MORE NEWS