Using E-cigarette in a meeting

[StrawberryShortbread2001]

I'm a support worker and work on a ward. E-cigs are allowed in the communal rooms (lounge, dining room) and the bedrooms. The only time they're not allowed is in ward round.

We were having a community meeting which we have every week. E-cigarettes are allowed to be used during the meeting. This was a special meeting about a certain issue so as well as the usual service users, nurses, support workers, occupational therapists and social worker - the consultant, head social worker, psychologist and hospital manager were there. One of the service users was engaging and putting a point across with a bit of back and forth. She was using her e-cig when not talking. Suddenly the hospital manager looked at her a bit horrified and said 'are you smoking?' She said 'No! I'm using a e-cigarette' The consultant then jumped in to say she shouldn't be using it. She was embarrassed and confused at being called out on it and stopped engaging in the meeting. At the end she spoke to the consultant to tell him they always used e-cigarettes in the merting and he told her she should have known not to use it and she needs to be more flexible in her thinking.

Am I right to think 1. If e-cigs weren't to be used it should have been announced at the beginning of the meeting and 2. She shouldn't have been called out in public like that

It caused the service user a lot of upset and has really wound me up!

Well OP, I've experienced it - I was sectioned a year ago. It can be very difficult to challenge people or raise concerns with staff when you are frightened and unwell. Tbh I get the impression you only listen to service users opinions when they coincide with your own

Do people understand why the smoking ban came in? It wasn't because non smokers don't like being around smoking or because it bothers or upsets them. It's because second hand smoke causes actual physical harm.

This simply is not the case with being around someone who is vaping. While of course it's important to listen to and address the various concerns of all patients/SU this is not the same issue at all as the legal duty to protect people from second hand smoke.

@user1471422568. - I don't think she's not listening - she has said patient's concerns should be listened to. But you haven't given any information about how being on a ward with those using e-cigarettes is difficult. If you were only sectioned a year ago I assume you were on an acute ward so very different to where the OP works.

@user1471422568 - to be honest I think you're perhaps projecting too. You had a bad experience in hospital - didn't feel listened to etc. I'm really sorry to hear that but not all wards are the same - even acute wards are not hated by everybody and can have staff that listen to concerns and patients feel able to confide in.

I take your point cedar, my most recent experience was pretty bad! But I do think that it's really hard to "advocate " for yourself when ill. Quite a few of the staff were lovely actually but I was so unwell to begin with I really couldn't talk to anyone

But you're right, the ward the OP works on sounds very different to a bog standard acute ward

@user1471 - I'm really sorry to hear that. I've had some really bad experiences too and you're right you really can't advocate for yourself when seriously unwell - or make a complaint - which I think is what they count on! I'm glad you are in a better place, now.