Smoking in hospitals.

Restricting smoking in public places is an important part of a smoking prevention strategy. To find out the extent to which smoking is restricted in health service premises a survey of 190 hospitals and health centres in the Wessex Region was done. It showed that the levels of smoking restriction were high, and that patients, visitors, and staff complied well with the restrictions. For ambulant patients the situation clearly favoured the smoker-for example, only 18% of acute hospitals could offer "smoke-free" day rooms to every patient who requested it, yet 92% could offer day-room accommodation to all smokers. Cigarettes were sold in a quarter of acute and maternity hospitals. Doctors played a small role in promoting non-smoking. Goals, based on percentage of floor space designated as non-smoking areas, should be set and their achievement monitored. Cigarettes should not be sold in hospitals, except perhaps long-stay hospitals.