Smoking now fully banned at Gorleston hospital grounds

Fifteen years after smoking was banned in all enclosed public spaces, Gorleston-based James Paget University Hospital Trust became entirely smoke-free on Monday - even prohibiting smokers from having a cigarette in the car park.

The trust says tobacco has long been identified as the main cause of premature death and preventable ill-health in the UK.

Smoking was banned from all enclosed public spaces in England on July 1, 2007. Picture - PA Wire (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/PA Images)

Figures show 14pc of adults smoke in England. However, 23pc of adults smoke in Great Yarmouth, making it the most prevalent district in Norfolk.

Before Monday's ban, smoking at the James Paget had been permitted on-site in the outdoor smoking shelters at the front and back of the hospital.

Now, smoking is prohibited everywhere on the site or grounds of the hospital and other trust locations, such as the Newberry Clinic in Gorleston and Carlton Court in Lowestoft.

The smoke-free site includes car parks, meaning that smoking is not permitted in cars when parked on trust premises.

The smoking shelter on the north side of James Paget's entrance will be available for vapers and e-cigarette smokers only. Picture - Google (Image: Google)

Vaping and e-cigarettes - which are seen by the NHS as a means of helping people quit smoking tobacco - will be allowed, but only within the existing shelters previously designated for smokers.

Trust chief executive Jo Segasby said: "Smoking tobacco continues to damage people’s health while putting huge pressure on the NHS.

“As a leading healthcare provider in the area, it is our responsibility to do all we can to deter people from smoking - and that includes making our site entirely smoke-free. 

People are no longer allowed to smoke at any site of the James Paget University Hospital Trust. Picture - Google (Image: Google)

"This is in line with the NHS’ Smokefree Pledge and the government's target to make England smoke-free by 2030.

"However, we recognise that quitting tobacco can be really tough for some smokers - and that is why we will continue to sign-post both our patients and staff, who need support to local organisations who can help them quit."

For more information on stopping smoking, visit:

https://www.smokefreenorfolk.nhs.uk/

https://onelifesuffolk.co.uk/services/stop-smoking/

James Paget University Hospital. Picture - JPUH (Image: JPUH)