One of the first hospitals in the country to ban smoking throughout its entire grounds is celebrating its third year of being smoke free.

Cork University Hospital (CUH) became a smoke-free campus on May 31, 2010. Since then, smoking has not been permitted anywhere on the grounds, including walkways, internal roads, bicycle shelters and car parks.

According to CUH chief executive, Tony McNamara, introducing this policy three years ago was a ‘huge challenge'.

"We were one of the first hospitals in the country to move in this direction and we are delighted with the progress we have made over the last three years. We remain committed to a smoke-free environment at CUH and to protecting and promoting the health of all our patients, staff and visitors," he said.

He insisted that the policy has been ‘well received by patients and visitors to the hospital and many of our staff, who continue to smoke, only do so when not at work'.

Patients are informed of the policy in advance of their admission to hospital and again when they are admitted. Patients who smoke are offered free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during their stay. They can also be referred to the hospital's free smoking cessation service, which is provided by the HSE.

According to HSE South smoking cessation officer, Patricia Good, many CUH patients and staff have availed of this service.

"Since the introduction of the policy in May 2010, we have had more than 1,100 new clients and of those that attempted to quit, 46% succeeded. This is well above the expected average," she explained.

Commenting on this, CUH respiratory consultant, Dr Barry Plant, said that the introduction of a smoke-free campus ‘provided an environment that promoted health and supported those who wanted to stop smoking'.

"Research conducted prior to implementing the policy indicated that the majority of staff and patients were in favour of it and the facts are undisputable when it comes to the health gains. Giving up smoking greatly improves the chances of patients recovery, which is the aim of being in hospital, the infection rates after surgery are decreased and, there is a significant increase in quit rates for those who smoke when they are in a smoke-free environment," he said.

He emphasised that stopping smoking at any age is the ‘single most important thing a person can do to improve their health'

However, he added that ‘we are not telling anyone that they must stop smoking, but we do ask people not to smoke in our hospital'.

For more information on quitting smoking, call the National Smokers' Quitline on 1850 201 203.