To ask smokers to move

[Esmeismyhero]

I want to start by saying I am a smoker, not heavy but I do have at least 5 cigarettes a day.

My daughter has a medical condition which we go to Bristol children's hospital for a lot. After her treatments my husband will go get the car and which is about 5 mins away.

So after treatments, scans, tests etc dd is very very grumpy. There is a waiting area but it's filled with gift shop tat and dd will usually try and trash the shop (it's not her fault, she's going through a lot) so I usually stand outside the door, there is pretty stained glass, statue of Olympic Rings that she likes to look at and calms her.

Outside the hospital there is a smoking area behind a white line, signs clearly state no smoking on hospital grounds and a 5 metre walk the white line for smokers starts.

What irritates me is that people stand right outside the door and light up and then smoke, I walk away which leaves dd screaming she can't see the stained glass etc but I won't have her near smoke.

Wibu to point out to smokers who do this that they should be behind the white line?

Dd has 4 consultant apps, 1 operation and 1 scan next week and they are all on different days so I'm going to be spending a lot of time there.

Personally I want to tell them what selfish people they are smoking in the doorway of a children's hospital but I'm too polite

Is there someone on reception you could ask to say something? Or is there any security?

I'm also a smoker but I'd not light up in any doorway, especially a hospital one. Selfish twats!

Our hospital sends out security on patrols to clear exits from time to time; they also get them to pop round if someone raises this. Raise it at reception.

No your not! They do it outside of my hospital, outside the cancer wing no less!!! I've said something in the past!

I was at BRI 2 months ago overnight with ds2 (fantastic hospital by the way, couldn't fault them at all) I personally never saw anyone in front I'd the line but I completely agree if you do then speak to the lads on security just inside, they are lovely and sure they will help enforce!

Tell the front desk, they should send staff out to make people move further from the door, entirely reasonable to do so.

They may well be smoking because they have kodsbin the hospital themselves, so don't go off the deep end at them.

*Kids in

Selfish bastards seriously! I'm an ex smoker and ALWAYS tried to make sure I smoked away from people who don't especially kids. Right outside the door of a hospital is disgraceful the human race bugs me so much!!

It's a great hospital, dd has been there a lot of ver her short life :(

I see the smoker a lot, it pisses me off.

When dd was in there for 2 weeks I popped out to smoke and stood well away from the hospital grounds.

I understand if ppl have kids in etc but still doesn't excuse smoking the doorway.

I am an ex smoker myself so don't judge anybody too harshly.

The absolute worst thing I have seen is mum and dad lighting up outside the maternity ward under the awning while waiting for their taxi to collect them nd their newborn. Nb was in her car seat as was my nb while I waited for dp to bring the car around.

I couldn't even lift him up to move him s I had had a c section the day before. I did ask them to move away but was told to fuck off.

Don't say anything to them but do mention it at the desk.

Extremely selfish, especially as its a children's hospital. I would have a word with security guard or reception, to ask them to move somewhere else.

Off to bri now so we shall see if the smokers are out in force

If they are, let security or reception know.

YANBU. Some smokers are unbelievably selfish. Years ago it could have been put down to unawareness, but there can hardly be a smoker nowadays who is not fully aware of the impact their smoking has on non smokers so there really is no excuse for that rude and inconsiderate behaviour any more.

Our local hospital send out the smoking cessation officer, you’ve never seen 40-a-dayers move so fast.

Anyone who smokes in the no-smoking areas around a hospital is a complete arsehole. There is no excuse for their behaviour.

I was impressed at alder hey last week when I saw security moving a number of smokers away from a and e doors.

It shouldn't take security though, all it takes is a little bit of common sense being applied and the smokers moving that little big further so they aren't in doorways/areas people have to walk through.

I do think that all hospitals should have a smoking area which is out of the way of people just walking past but easily accessible - as much as I don't like smoking when someone has an ill child it isn't a good time to be thinking about giving up or cutting down.

YANBU they are being selfish, there is a designated area for a reason, so many people with health problems who also want to get outside and it's always crowded with smokers.. we have the same problem in our two local hospitals.. you try and get outside for a bit of fresh air but you can smell the fags before you even get outside the entrance...

It takes a special kind of dick head to light up at the doorway of a children's hospital. I'm a smoker myself and I'd be telling them in quite harsh terms.

nope, no excuse. They presumably have a method of locomotion and can shift. They won't have any wind awareness (no smoker does) but you should not have to run the gauntlet through the entrance.

no-one wants to be in or near a hospital. No reason to make it worse for everyone else.

complain to hospital HQ and ask them to step up the fuckwit patrol.

YANBU. I totally get it. I'm also a smoker but don't ever smoke around DD and don't like others doing so, especially when they shouldn't even be there. It's beyond me why people see nothing wrong in being so inconsiderate. If I have to smoke in public, I always move well away from others!

YANBU at all but as others have said, get the staff to deal with this. If they won't then email PALS and ask for the complaint to be escalated. There are rules set by the hospital as to where smoking is allowed so they must enforce them. If you say anything yourself you are highly likely to be ignored or abused.

Many good wishes to you and your dd for what sounds a tough week.

Ugh, I hate how a lot of hospitals I know stink of smoke right outside the front door. I include a children's hospital and a maternity hospital in that and also a more general hospital. I know of another hospital where people do tend to walk a bit away from the door to smoke.

I'm not a smoker but I'm not commenting on people's right to smoke. Smoke your heart out. I just think it would be very nice if they'd think to move a little out of the way of the door before lighting up.

OP I second having a word with hospital security

, if possible, or reception so they can do so on your behalf. You don't have to do it in a confrontational manner, just give them an FYI. All of the hospitals I know have No Smoking signs outside the front doors and security are generally good at enforcing this.