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Mental health units go smokefree
The Department of Health (DoH) has written to mental health trusts, care providers and strategic health authorities to remind them that mental health units need to be smokefree from 1 July 2008.
Under smokefree legislation mental health units* were given given a 12-month exemption from the regulations until 30 June 2008.
From 1 July 2008, all mental health facilities, regardless of whether they provide acute or long-term residential services are to be smokefree in accordance with the legislation. The law applies to smoking indoors by all people, including patients, visitors and members of staff.
There are penalties for breaking the smokefree legislation, which are:
- For persons who control or manage smokefree premises who fail to prevent smoking within smokefree parts of premises or vehicles: a court fine up to £2,500
- For persons who manage premises who fail to display no smoking signs in smokefree premises and vehicles as required under smokefree law: a fixed penalty notice of £200, or a court find up to £1,000
- For any person found smoking in a smokefree premises or vehicle: A fixed penalty notice of £50, or a court fine up to £200.
Enforcing smokefree legislation is the responsibility of local councils who will be able to provide advice, support and resources.
Related Items:
Government sets out smokefree status of mental health units
* For smokefree regulations, "mental health unit" means any establishment (or part of an establishment) maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from any form of mental disorder as defined in section 1(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Date: 1 July 2008