You could soon be asked to stop smoking in your own home.

The Department of Health’s introduced a new Smokefree Policy, designed to protect employees, service users and visitors from the risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke.

Patients are being asked to stop smoking during visits from professionals such as district nurses, health visitors, podiatrists and social workers

James Davis reports (audio file attached):

Although it’s legal to smoke in your own home, senior health officials are hopeful that patients appreciate the need to take care of the workers who care for them.

Chief Executive David Killip says many staff members undertake home visits as part of their work, and for some, it constitutes a large proportion of their day.

And while legislation ensures staff are protected in department buildings and vehicles, many community care workers are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

The Policy acknowledges there may occasionally be highly complex or crisis situations where staff can use their discretion whether or not to implement the policy in the patient’s home.