Further smoking-related fines at Ninewells as Tayside faces job cuts

'NHS Tayside is paying the council £20,000 to provide the service.' At a time when NHS Tayside must lay off personnel, it can afford £20,000 to pay for enforcement of the national law. It has managed to fine 5 staff members for standing in bus shelters smoking (including one featured two weeks ago because she was on call and was not allowed to leave the site), and six people including two staff for littering.

Of course NHS Tayside should have priorities other than bringing in enforcement officers to prosecute their own staff and public. But if staff cuts were not an issue, isn't there something sinister about a health board hiring law enforcers from the council? Law enforcement is not a health board remit. It's the council's job. Health board money shouldn't be paying for it.

Raigmore Hospital (Inverness) doesn't seem to be having much luck enforcing its policy either. Perhaps they'll hire some council enforcers as well.