New tannoy for smoking ban at Downe Hospital

New tannoy for smoking ban at Downe Hospital

20 March 2019

A NEW tannoy system has been introduced at the Downe Hospital to remind patients, staff and visitors that smoking is banned.

All hospitals, clinics and day centres across the South Eastern Trust area went smoke-free two years ago and to coincide with No Smoking Month the organisation has introduced a new system to make sure people are fully aware that the Downe site is smoke free.

Anyone who sees a person smoking outside the hospital is encouraged to press a button located inside the building which delivers a message over the tannoy that having a puff is banned.

The messages have been recorded by local schoolchildren from Ards and Dundonald, as well as health professionals, the health trust’s smoking wardens and the public.

One message by a young person says: “Please stop smoking. If you are attending the hospital you are already ill and smoking could make you worse.”  

Another message from a doctor adds: “I’m a cardiologist. If you do not want to be my patient, think of your future and stop smoking today.”

Trust officials say its message to those who see people breaching the no smoking ban is clear, simply push the button to make their voices heard. 

Trust officials say the number of times the button is pushed to trigger the tannoy message to tell people to stop polluting the environment will be recorded.