to be really annoyed with the smokers outside the hospital?

[bumbleymummy]

There are no smoking signs everywhere and there is an allocated smoking area right opposite the entrance to the hospital but there were about 10 people all smoking right outside the hospital doors. Everyone has to walk past them inhaling their smoke. WIBU to say something to them? Point them in the direction of the smoking area? I have a feeling I'd be old to f-off but why should they be allowed to stand there unchallenged?

[Sirzy]

Most non smokers simply want smokers to not stand under doors or windows and move a small way away so nobody is forced to pass through the smoke. Surely thts not a lot to ask?

[ThatBloodyWoman]

No I don't think that is a lot to ask.

It's just such a shame that there are some bloody minded smokers who won't move even though there's absolutely no reason why they shouldn't, and some perfectly healthy non smokers who object to any hint of fag smoking polluting their world even outdoors.

I think if people were just more understanding of others and more tolerant of others, we'd all be just about ok.

I think the general consensus seems to be that smokers should make the small adjustments needed because it is a serious problem for some to be subjected to cigarette smoke.
But I also think it seems non smoking sites are perhaps not a practical reaction.

[trixymalixy]

I agree that non smoking sites aren't the best solution, but even when there are designated smoking areas a few minutes walk away, smokers just ignore then and smoke where the hell they like. It's those selfish people that have ruined it for all smokers.

My Ds was treated at the hospital that has those posters Giraffes has posted , there's always some utterly selfish cunt smoking under them.

[Sirzy]

Our local hospital has a smoking shelter, it is about 10 paces from the door. People still dont use it it though

[giraffescantboogie]

Yup Gartnavel is the one I mean with the resp ward and CF unit, it is also where I go for my respiratory clinic and spirometery tests...I want good results on them not ones where I am hacking up my lungs. And yes my lungs really are that sensitive - honestly. There are areas about 10 feet away that would be better to smoke, but no people would stand right at the door smoking. So now they have wardens who chase people if they see them smoking anywhere on the site.

Western needs that - I had to say - well gasp - excuse me to 2 smokers as a walked in door of A&E, it is a small single door, not a huge door so no way to get past them as I had an asthma attack. My oxygen levels were dangerously low and I was whisked in to resus and had ICU drs down. They could have moved about 6 feet away from door, but no!

[BalloonSlayer]

Our local hospital is a "no smoking zone" so people are not allowed to smoke anywhere in the building or the grounds.

It is a new hospital so it has been designed to look like the high-tech temple of healing that it is.

Shame that this impression has been ruined by the collection of smokers round the entrance to the building. All patients in nightwear - usually includes one heavily pregnant woman and one person on a drip. And no, I'm, afraid I am not making it up.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

But why would a smoker suddenly not crave a fag just because they're on a drip, Balloon ?

You can be on a drip for all sorts of things, some precautionary.

[BalloonSlayer]

Well, TBW, my point is that the hospital designers appear to think that if they create a "smoke free hospital" with no smoking areas then people won't smoke. Which is a nonsense, as you have pointed out.

So why not have discrete and discreet smoking areas, which people - like giraffes - who need to be away from smoke won't have to encounter on their only route into the building?

[giraffescantboogie]

This was something I did for my new consultant - the 2 times I had met her I was having rare good days, she only had knowledge of me being scarily bad in hosp or having a good day, nothing in between. I videoed an in between wheezing day.

So this is what I am quite often like and will need a home nebuliser treatment and steroids to try and help. I would not go to hospital for being this bad, so you can imagine when I am actually at hospital I would be much worse.

Do you see how that smoke can really affect me? This is me sitting at rest - not WALKING through a hosp door - that would make me worse to start with, add in the smoke and I can't cope at all!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Oh yes, I completely agree.

I think there can be pleasant and discreet smoking areas in close proximity without compromising patients who for very good reason, need to steer clear of smoke.

Sadly, some bloody minded people would choose, still, to smoke where they please, but hopefully there would be less of them doing so.

Of course, the other factor is that if people have to go to the entrance to the site to smoke, they will more likely smoke nearer to the entrance because
a) they'll be gagging once they get there, and
b) there will be no rules or regulations telling them where they can smoke, as they'll be off site.

No smoking sites are looking more and more like a bad idea to me!

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Maybe they should give patients nicotine patches for the duration of their stay? It's grim here. For some reason, and despite all of the vast numbers of 'no smoking' signs, people congregate around the main entrance. It all blows up, into the wards above, then they throw their ends onto the floor. There's hundreds of them. It's lovely

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Sorry, that was to Balloon , giraffes.

I hope that no one is disputing your inability to tolerate fag smoke.I'm certainly not.

Asthma is no joke.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Sorry, that was to Balloon , giraffes.

I hope that no one is disputing your inability to tolerate fag smoke.I'm certainly not.

Asthma is no joke.

[trixymalixy]

Oh FFS giraffes just hold your breath to get through that cloud of smoke. How dare you want to not breathe in the smoke from those smokers ignoring the no smoking signs when they may be stressed out and really need that fag more than you need to breathe?!

[Loopylala7]

I get why you think this is unreasonable, and as a non smoker agree how horrible the smell is and walking through the smoke etc. I work in a hospital with all the non smoking signs and see people smoking all the time, but actually I would not tell them to not do it because:

When they are in a wheel chair/on crutches/have a drip attached you can see why they maybe can't get off the premises

They may have just had some awful news

I could well get a mouthful for my comment