Hospital break smoking ban because of cigarette addiction
Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge is facing criticism for funding research on why staff flouted a smoking ban across its site. Cambridge University researchers found Addenbrooke’s workers were not smoking outside wards for pleasure or to avoid feeling low – but were driven by “psychological addiction” and “chemical dependence”.
However, since the research began, Addenbrooke’s has bowed to pressure from staff and patients and scrapped the ban on smoking.
The staff smoking study, published in the open access journal BMC Public Health, won £3,850 in funding from the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.
Cllr Geoff Heathcock, Liberal Democrat spokesman for health on Cambridgeshire County Council, described the survey conclusions as “obvious” and called for the return of the sitewide ban. He said: “They should be setting an example to people to give up smoking.”
A spokesman for Addenbrooke’s Hospital said: “The research provides a useful insight into the attitudes of staff who smoke.”
Copyright © 2009 Telegraph
