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Tobacco the 'most preventable cause of death' in Canada

Sudbury Regional Hospital is encouraging its staff, volunteers and physicians, as well as patients and the public, to take part in National Non-Smoking Week, which takes place Jan. 16-22.
Sudbury Regional Hospital is encouraging its staff, volunteers and physicians, as well as patients and the public, to take part in National Non-Smoking Week, which takes place Jan. 16-22.

Last July, the hospital introduced a new smoking policy which restricts smoking on all hospital properties for employees, physicians, volunteer and visitors. Patients are permitted to smoke on hospital property in designated areas.

The hospital is working towards including patients in the smoking ban by offering programs that provide the right tools, information and support to assist them in the process of quitting smoking, stated a press release from the hospital.

”A nurse counsellor trained in smoking cessation best practices talks with the patient about their smoking status, their readiness to quit and their confidence in doing so, “Marianne Mantyla, tobacco control and smoking cessation co-ordinator said, in the press release.

“She also offers assistance to them in the form of nicotine replacement Therapy while they are in hospital. The goal is to make patients as comfortable as possible while in hospital and also provide them with support options once they are discharged.”

The negative effects of tobacco use are well documented.

“Tobacco use remains the most preventable cause of death and disease in Canada,” Dr. Amanda Hey, clinical leader, preventive oncology and screening said. “For patients admitted to hospital who are current tobacco users, systematic hospital-based tobacco dependence treatment interventions have been shown to increase long term abstinence rates. This can result in fewer tobacco-related illnesses and deaths.”

The HRSRH also has in place a program to help employees stop smoking.

All employees are eligible for the program which provides stop smoking readiness counselling; reimbursement for stop smoking products such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers, nicotine lozenges and certain prescription medication; and optional follow-up support through the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline.

For over 30 years National Non-Smoking week has been raising awareness of the negative effects of smoking and encouraging individuals to quit. For more information, visit http://www.cctc.ca/.

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