Policy responses and statements
Background: The Scottish Government is seeking views on achieving smoke-free mental health services in Scotland. Responses to this consultation will help to inform the Government's future action on reducing exposure to second-hand smoke in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. Responses are encouraged from: service users with mental health problems In particular, the Government would like to encourage existing service user and staff groups, whether national or local, to get their members actively engaged in the consultation. Background: In March 2006, Scotland introduced the law that banned smoking in public spaces such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants. Designated rooms in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units were exempt from the ban. However, the Scottish Government made it clear that it would review this position. It set up the Tobacco and Mental Health Advisory Group to advise on this. The Group asked NHS Health Scotland to commission research, exploring how psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units in Scotland might become smoke-free. The study reviewed evidence, sought the views of stakeholders and examined a number of units which had recently gone smoke-free, or were in the process of doing so. The study found that smoke-free policies have been successfully implemented in psychiatric hospitals and units, including several in Scotland. The researchers also interviewed mental health professionals in Scotland, and found them strongly in favour of moving towards smoke-free environments. It was felt that allowing smoking to continue - when almost all other workplaces are smoke-free - would:
Download this consultation response as a .pdf
Copies of this response are available from: Lesley Lockhart, Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608 [09 Aprily 2009]
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