Saint John Hospital aims to be smoke-free by September

With just two months to go before the Saint John Regional Hospital rolls out its property-wide ban on smoking, hospital officials counted 64 packs worth of cigarette butts collected in one day from a non-smoking designated area.

"It's a sobering number to hear," said Margaret Melanson, vice-president of quality and patient-centred care for the Horizon Health Network.

"We know we've struggled with second-hand smoke and smoking in non-designated areas … we certainly know we have challenges ahead as we implement our new policy."

The 1,600 cigarette butts were counted to help staff measure what problems may arise when the hospital goes 100 per cent smoke free in September.

The hospital has offered patch and gum nicotine replacement therapies to staff for 12 weeks, free of charge, Melanson said.

So far, 61 employees have enrolled in the smoking cessation program.

"That was introduced earlier in July to allow them a bit of a jump-start to prepare for the implementation of the policy in September," she said.

"So that's very good, we're hoping others engage in the weeks ahead."

Mental health practitioners received additional training to support their patients, said Melanson.

Patients who smoke may be prescribed nicotine replacement therapy to refrain from smoking while staying at the hospital.

And nicotine gum will be sold in the hospital's gift shop for visitors.

A "combination of factors" came into play that led the hospital to launch its smoke-free environment policy, Melanson said.

"Smoking is in no way aligned with our mission or the values of any health care facility, and that was coupled with concerns we continued to receive from patients and family members who really objected to second-hand smoke and smoking visibly on our property," she said.

"That was followed up by similar concerns from our own physicians and staff members."

The Saint John Regional Hospital is the first hospital under the Horizon Health Network to transition to a smoke-free property.

By next spring, hospitals and health facilities in Fredericton and Miramichi will implement Horizon's property-wide ban.

All facilities across New Brunswick aim to have the same policy introduced by the end of 2016.

The Miramichi Regional Hospital and the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton tested a no smoking policy on hospital property in the past.

But both facilities reversed their policies when the Horizon Network was established.

A spokesperson for Horizon said it was felt that a retreat to the use of designated smoking areas was desired.