Hospital smoke-free rule forces smokers to roadside

The Saint John Regional Hospital's new plan to get patients and staff to butt out is called Smoke Free Together, but it's fostering anything but a feeling of togetherness for some.

Lorraine Carr is a smoker who works at the hospital and isn't happy with the change.

I thought this was a free country.- Lorraine Carr, hospital worker

"To me, it's dictatorship. I thought this was a free country. I have no problem being outdoors but I think we deserve an area."

Carr says some of the patients are going to suffer.

"You have patients who are terminally ill who might want a smoke. You're telling someone that's dying they can't have a cigarette? Hello?"

The new rules ban smokers from lighting up anywhere on the property. Cardiologist Dr. Rob Stevenson pushed to implement the program at the the Saint John Regional. He says it's one of the best programs in the country. 

"We've learned from all those other hospitals that have gone smoke-free. The evidence is pretty clear, the patient experience, the employee experience improves." 

However, Stevenson agrees there has to be support for smokers.

"You can't simply tell them that you can't smoke on hospital grounds. That creates a prison-like environment."

Smoke Free Together does provide support for those looking to wean off cigarettes. Staff were offered patch and gum nicotine replacement therapies for 12 weeks, free of charge.

Nicotine patches and gum are being offered to patients while in hospital. 

Outside the hospital, volunteers now patrol hospital grounds providing information and telling smokers where to go.

Fred McLeod, who had an appointment at the hospital, was one of those people told to leave the property if he wanted to smoke.

He ended up on the side of the road in his wheelchair.

 "It's way too much," he said. "It's only smoking, come on, eh? People are going to smoke no matter what you do."

The objective is to have all New Brunswick Hospitals smoke-free by 2016.

James Gardiner thinks that's a great idea.

"Usually when we walk out of the hospital, you can smell it because people are right by the doors smoking. But now you can't so, I like it."