Western Health Smoke Free Tomorrow - Jun 30, 2008

Effective tomorrow, July 1, 2008, Western Health will be Smoke Free:  Inside/Outside/Everywhere.  That means that patients, clients, visitors and staff will no longer be permitted to smoke on any of its exterior grounds and parking lots.

Effective tomorrow, July 1, 2008, Western Health will be Smoke Free:  Inside/Outside/Everywhere.  That means that patients, clients, visitors and staff will no longer be permitted to smoke on any of its exterior grounds and parking lots.

“We are pleased to be able to support a Smoke Free Properties Policy at Western Health starting tomorrow,” said Susan Gillam, CEO of Western Health.  “This policy will help us achieve our vision of healthy people living in healthy communities.”

As the Regional Health Authority, this is an opportunity to set an example for our communities to be smoke free. “We are asking for the public’s co-operation with the policy and to be smoke free on our properties.  We hope this will provide an incentive for employees and clients who smoke to actually quit,” said Dr. Minnie Wasmeier, Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Services and Member of the Smoke Free Properties Working Group.

“Western Health staff deal with the devastating effects of tobacco use first hand so anything that we can do to minimize the impact of smoking is appropriate,” said Tanya Barnes Matthews, Regional Health Educator and Chair of the Tobacco Free Network.  “We also want to remind people that not only are we smoke free on our properties, clients who receive care in their homes are asked to refrain from smoking an hour before Western Health staff arrive and while they are there providing care to you.”

Western Health has been promoting the policy on our website, signs and brochures in an effort to prepare both employees and the public for the Smoke Free initiative. 

People looking for more information on quitting smoking can call the Smoker’s Helpline at 1-800-363-5864.

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For more information contact:
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications, 709-637-5252