Recently, I was sitting in the garden/seating area with my friend who is receiving treatment for cancer. Most of the people in that area are still smoking, taking no notice that it is a non-smoking area or the fact that they are still on hospital grounds. A person started smoking just near us, but walked away after she saw that I was going to say something to her when she got off her mobile. Another person went to sit right near us with the breeze blowing our way so the smoke would have blown right in our faces. I immediately said to this person, that you better not smoke near me or my friend and you need to move away, to which the person obliged (as they know they should not be smoking there anyway).
Is anything done to reinforce the non-smoking policy on hospital grounds? I think not because people are smoking all the time and in plain view of everyone/staff. Who is supposed to enforce this policy. I believe the people smoking don't care because they know no one will enforce this policy. In my opinion, they still smoke because they know whoever is supposed to enforce this policy are too afraid. They are breaking the rules and totally disregarding the welfare of the patients who would like to use the area for the purpose that it was designed for.
My friend along with numerous other patients are battling for their lives and their lives do not need to be further jeopardised because a rule or policy is not enforced. Please do something about this !
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