Much huffing, and some puffing, as smoking banned on hospital grounds

A blanket smoking ban introduced yesterday in all Mid-West public hospital campuses was met with the usual amount of puff, mixed with a little bit of huff.

A security man at Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick said: “People had their cigarette but outside the grounds. There were a few F’s but that was about it.”

Throughout the day patients — some in wheelchairs, others moving with the assistance of walking aides — trooped past the front gates before drawing their packs.

One woman in a pink dressing gown coped with a degree of comfort. Her daughter parked a smart BMW coupe on the side of the N20 as mum sat in and lit up.

“The ban is OK for visitors but there should be some facility in the grounds for patients. When I started, nobody knew the affects cigarettes would have and it was cool to be smoking.”

Another patient, Jimmy Power, 72, from Murroe, said he wouldn’t be in hospital but for the damage cigarettes did to his lungs and agreed with the new regime.

“I was a 100-a-day man. But when the doctor asked me 13 years ago if I wanted to go underground or stay overground, it frightened the life out of me and I gave them up.

“But they did fierce damage and I am in [hospital] again with breathlessness. I used to love to play the harmonica and I’d play and sing at weddings. But it hurts now when I try to blow into it or sing my favourite song... if somebody came into my house and lit up a fag now, I’d ask them to leave. I am in and out of hospital for years over them and they were the worst things ever invented. I agree with the ban and they should have brought it in years ago.”

Martina Kiely, was visiting her daughter, Rebecca, 8, in the Ark children’s ward.

“To have to go outside the front gate now for a cigarette is ridiculous. They demolished the shelter for smokers near the front door. They should have left that there.”

Bedelia Collins, health promotion officer with the HSE in Limerick, said there had been a very positive response from patients and many felt the total ban would help them fight the habit.

“There was a bit of resistance, but most people complied when asked.”