As part of a
health-care organisation, EVE is committed to promoting the health of the
participants and staff in our services. Smoking is one of the leading causes of
death and illness and we have an obligation to everyone to address this critical
public health issue.
In line with national HSE policy, EVE plans to implement a
Tobacco Free Campus as of the 1st July 2015 initially for staff.
This policy covers all areas of EVE campus/buildings, entrances, doorways, car
parks etc.
The policy will
apply initially to staff and external contractors. We are not asking
employees to stop smoking – however the policy will require employees who
smoke to refrain from smoking during their hours of work, both on and off
campus.
We realise that this change may
be difficult for people who smoke, and we are announcing the policy now in
order to give everyone sufficient time to prepare for this change. We will
actively support all staff in this regard. We have a range of smoking cessation
support services (ref: www.QUIT.ie
website, the National Smokers' Quitline 1850 201 203 and the 'You
Can Quit Facebook page and resources from the Health
Promotion website) and would encourage all smokers to avail of these.
Information sessions will be held in all EVE centre’s to communicate details of
the policy and discuss the local implementation plan.
Participants/members
who smoke will also require support to manage their addiction while attending
our service. It is our intention to address their individual needs through the Person-Centred
Planning process. We will help make the
transition to a tobacco free campus easier by providing information to
potential participants/members about our tobacco free policy prior to joining
the service; screening/early identification of nicotine dependant individuals,
and provision of smoking cessation support during their time in the service.
Upon leaving the service, participants/members can avail of continued support
from the HSE’s cessation services, their local GP or Pharmacist.
Stopping smoking is the single most important thing a
person can do to improve their health.