MANITOULIN—The Manitoulin Health Centre is continuing to look at either putting in place designated smoking areas at its two hospital locations on the Island for two years, or banning smoking on all hospital property immediately. This comes after legislation was put in place by the province earlier this year.
“I wasn’t involved in the meeting held this week, but our clinical vice lead and building and environmental service manager discussed the transition plan with tobacco compliance officers with the Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU),” said Derek Graham, chief executive officer of the Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC), on Monday. “This included a signage review. I think we have to look at a site for a temporary designated smoking area for now.”
“We can designate a smoking area for two years at both are hospital locations, but we are hashing this out and looking at whether to go with this, or to put a smoking ban on all property at our two hospital locations now,” said Mr. Graham.
“Right now we are looking into what it would take to put in designated smoking areas, but if it doesn’t make sense or isn’t feasible to have this set up for the next two years, we will have to go smoke free pretty much immediately,” said Mr. Graham.
As reported in last week’s edition of the Recorder, while the Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) will comply with new smoking legislation put in place by the province, Mr. Graham voiced concerns with the new laws.
“From a health perspective I can understand (the proposed blanket ban), but to not allow smoking anywhere on the grounds of hospitals where are people who want to smoke are going to congregate is on the sidewalks near roads?” questioned Mr. Graham, responding to provincial legislation put in place as of January 1. This includes a province-wide smoking ban on all hospital grounds, which will be a change for hospitals like the MHC’s two-site hospital locations, he said.
Currently, the MHC is smoke-free within eight metres of and inside the hospital facilities, but smoking is allowed outside of that eight-metre area on hospital property. The legislation is to be put in immediately or phased in within two years.
The provincial legislation will allow hospitals to issue fines of up to $250 to anyone who smokes within nine metres of the hospital entrances.
“Our representatives are looking into this whole issue and are going to continue meeting with public health officials and put a transition plan in place,” continued Mr. Graham. “Right now there is signage in place and smoking is allowed outside the area of eight metres from our two hospital building locations. We will be looking at having a designated smoking area on hospital property for two years or to go smoke free now.”
