Tobacco Control

Tairawhiti District Health is a Smokefree DHB

Tairawhiti District Health has a smokefree policy aimed at protecting staff, patients and visitors from first and second hand smoke and promotes healthy life styles.

Environment

TDH buildings, sites, grounds, offices and vehicles are smokefree.  Staff cannot smoke where services to patients are being provided off-site (e.g. home visits, community based clinics) or where staff are representing TDH outside the organisation (e.g. community).

Patients

All patients will be asked their smoking status and have it recorded on their file. All patients who are recorded as smoking will be offered brief advice on the benefits of being Smokefree, and offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products during their time in hospital. They will be also given the option of a referral to a cessation service. NRT Quit cards will be available on all wards to be given to patients on discharge.

Visitors

All visitors are expected to respect the Smokefree policy of TDH. All staff members have the responsibility under this policy to ensure visitors are informed of the policy and, if they see visitors smoking, to inform them that they must go off-site if they wish to smoke. Standing Orders allow visitors to be administered NRT while in the hospital. Parents of children admitted to hospital  will be offered NRT and support to stop smoking.