Back in the 80`s

[ttk57]

Back in the early 80`s,i was hospital with a chest infection and i remember that the hospital had a "smoking room"! It`s hard to believe how much smoking was tolerated then.

[Mocarey]

In 1970 I was in a hospital with supposed TB, turned out to be sacrcoid. However there were patients who were on oxygen.Some would remove the mask and then light a ciggie. Unbelievable! Not a word was said. Things have definitely changed

[ttk57 in reply to Mocarey]

I know what you mean,Mocarey.I`ve also seen patients on a drip sat outside having a smoke.UNBELIEVABLE!

[Gordon57]

The hospital where I was doing hospital radio have had a strict no smoking policy for some time, yet patients still stand just outside the main doors, by some big 'no smoking' notices.

Many are defiant and say that nobody can stop them - which is true, the hospital can't really have staff walking round with fire extinguishers - the logic being that is they see someone smoking they must assume they are on fire and take appropriate action.

This follows a death within the hospital itself a few years ago - dailymail.co.uk/news/articl...

IF someone really wants to smoke, they must go up to the main road, an area which is littered with cig ends... When I started there we could go out of the building and smoke outside almost any door, but it was soon stopped in line with pubs and other public buildings.

I remember being allowed to smoke in the day room of a ward, now I make a point of using my inhaler and coughing very loudly as I walk in the entrance, wearing my NHS staff badge...

[Daxiemad]

Back the 80's yes there were smoking rooms, and as much as I don't like them I feel that every hospital should have inside space for smokers. I have never smoked, never wanted to, but since the smoking ban has come in, despite no smoking signs everywhere, when I visit my local hospital I have to endure going through the main entrance which is usually surrounded by worried relatives, and patients with ciggies in their mouths. I have politely challenged them on occasions, usually when I am just getting over a serious Asthma attack, to be met with abuse and even the response well I have Asthma and I am alright. The entrances to the hospital site have cigarette stubbing posts, and all round is littered with stubs, staff are threatened with the sack if they smoke in the grounds so you see them standing on the borders in all weathers sucking on a ciggie. It looks dreadful. For the sake of smokers and non smokers alike I would happily support a reintroduction to to smoking rooms in hospitals. I am not suggesting that there be smoking rooms on every ward, but just a couple of managed rooms in certain locations.

[Gordon57 in reply to Daxiemad]

I'd suggest next to the morgue...

[linsabout]

I had my first baby in 1972, then there was smoking allowed on all the wards-even maternity. It was common to have a consultant visit you who was smoking. It wasn't all bad tho-they used to give us a bottle of stout each every evening to replace our blood!

[medow]

I remember nipping onto the fire escape for a fag before I went down for an operation, OMG, did I really do that, and did the nurse really join me !!!

[1968]

Those were the days, it's all about education awerness now.

Remember smoking at the back of the plane going on your hols?

what about smoking in your staff canteen when people were eating there lunch?

I remember being in a resturant having a fag before my starter, nipping it then lighting up after I finnished my starter awaiting my main course.

Oh did we really do these things, how un educated were we, and if we really did know the dangers and were trully warned would we have stopped.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE MOVIE WITH RUSSEL CROW, THE ONE WHERE HE WAS A WHISLTLE BLOWER WORKING IN THE FAG FIRM ???

David 1968