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| Guards abused by hospital smokers | Guards abused by hospital smokers |
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| Hospital security guards face daily abuse when they ask smokers to leave the site, a health trust says. | Hospital security guards face daily abuse when they ask smokers to leave the site, a health trust says. |
| North Wales NHS trust said it estimated that 3,000 incidents of verbal abuse happens at its hospitals every year. | North Wales NHS trust said it estimated that 3,000 incidents of verbal abuse happens at its hospitals every year. |
| Smoking on hospital grounds is against the trust policy, but it is not against the law. | Smoking on hospital grounds is against the trust policy, but it is not against the law. |
| Steve Jones, security manager at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, said guards had been left upset by some aggressive smokers. | Steve Jones, security manager at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, said guards had been left upset by some aggressive smokers. |
| "Patients, relatives and visitors can become verbally aggressive to staff when politely asked to move away from buildings to smoke elsewhere. | "Patients, relatives and visitors can become verbally aggressive to staff when politely asked to move away from buildings to smoke elsewhere. |
| "The usual reply is 'Why?' or 'What are you going to do about it?'" | "The usual reply is 'Why?' or 'What are you going to do about it?'" |
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| Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan has a no smoking policy in the hospital's grounds | |
| "They're trained in conflict resolution and they professionally, politely and courteously explain that it's a smoke-free hospital," he said. | "They're trained in conflict resolution and they professionally, politely and courteously explain that it's a smoke-free hospital," he said. |
| Dr Nick Clerk, a consultant of obstetrics and gynaecology, said it was time to address the problem. | Dr Nick Clerk, a consultant of obstetrics and gynaecology, said it was time to address the problem. |
| "It is a shame to see pregnant mothers, and newly born babies, children attending the paediatrics department, patients arriving by ambulance as well as staff and visitors wading through cigarette smoke to access or exit the building. Not forgetting the littering of cigarette butts all over the entrance." | "It is a shame to see pregnant mothers, and newly born babies, children attending the paediatrics department, patients arriving by ambulance as well as staff and visitors wading through cigarette smoke to access or exit the building. Not forgetting the littering of cigarette butts all over the entrance." |
| A spokesperson for the trust said its powers were limited to asking people not to smoke. | A spokesperson for the trust said its powers were limited to asking people not to smoke. |
| "However, if the situation continues the trust will readdress its powers of enforcement and discuss with the Welsh Assembly Government what further action the trust can take". | "However, if the situation continues the trust will readdress its powers of enforcement and discuss with the Welsh Assembly Government what further action the trust can take". |