Ramsey Cottage Hospital has become a completely smoke-free building, in anticipation of the Island-wide ban on smoking in public places, due to come in next March.

The Department of Health and Social Security says every hospital building in the Isle of Man has now adopted the Smoke-Free Premises Policy.

Notices to this effect will be displayed throughout the hospital site and patients receiving treatment will get written notification about the policy when they receive their appointment letters.

Edward Oldham reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

The new regulations will apply to all employees, contractors, patients, visitors and members of the public.

It covers all enclosed and substantially-enclosed parts of the hospital and includes all company vehicles.

Health Minister Eddie Teare is pleased the Ramsey facility's management has committed to the policy now and fully supports its introduction.

He says it's important all hospitals on the Island are smoke-free in order to protect staff, patients and visitors from the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke, which is now thought to be as carcinogenic as asbestos.