Proud to be Smoke Free
Smoking is the leading cause of premature death and preventable illness across the UK. Smoking prevalence on the Isle of Man is around 14.5%.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Manx Care together have a responsibility to promote health and wellbeing and support the Isle of Man smoke free ambition 2030. Creating smoke free space sends a message out that we can no longer encourage people to smoke upon our grounds.
Currently DHSC/Manx Care is looking to create healthier environments, and part of the people strategy is for Isle of Man residents to live longer healthier lives. Creating smoke-free environments is a key objective within this work.
The Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) has already implemented a smoke-free campus policy for all education buildings and sites.
The Noble’s staff restaurant balcony and the staff courtyard in Ramsey became smoke free staff areas in October 2020, coinciding with the Stoptober campaign, which aimed to encourage all Island workplaces to create smoke free staffing areas.
DHSC/Manx Care Smoke Free Policy
A new smoke free policy has been agreed by the DHSC to make the following sites completely smoke-free from 1 April 2021:
- Noble’s hospital campus
- Ramsey cottage hospital campus
- Westmoreland Road grounds
- Crookall House site
- All GP practices
All other DHSC/Manx Care buildings and sites will become smoke free 1 October 2021 and then finally 1 April 2022 all DHSC/Manx Care residential sites will be the last to become completely smoke free
The use of tobacco will not be permitted by anyone anywhere on the grounds from the effective date. Vaping will be permitted although will be restricted to certain areas.
Support for smokers
As areas within DHSC/Manx Care prepare for going smoke free, further information will be provided and support and guidance will be available.
The Quit4You team is the islands free specialist stop smoking service that is available to assist staff, patients and visitors who wish to stop smoking. The Quit4You stop smoking service is happy to hear from anyone seeking advice or support on quitting smoking, harm reduction or temporary cessation solutions and can be contacted 642404 or Quit@gov.im
Quit4You have developed a Quit4ABit programme which will support smokers who do not wish to quit but have to refrain from smoking in line with the DHSC/Manx Care Policy. Please contact Quit4You for further details.
DHSC/Manx Care are proud to be smoke free, support smoke free spaces and help enable Isle of Man residents to live longer, healthier lives.
