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.

One Fine Issued at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

On the second day, they managed to impose a £50 fine on someone for dropping a cigarette butt. Well, that's democracy in action. ASH Scotland couldn't resist including this report in their daily news bulletin, even though there was no url as the story appeared only in its paper edition.

The enforcement officers came to Ninewells on Monday, at the start of what is expected to be a year-long campaign. Smokers were approached. but since they complied when requested to stub out, no fines were issued.

You can almost hear them counting the cost of this exercise. Why don't they just open a large, pleasant, airy waiting room with ashtrays and tea and coffee facilities and the doorway area will be cleared of smokers in a trice.

Incidentally, it was good to see the contribution from Lesley Riddoch to the NHS Grampian debate on Monday. It is only available to subscribers unfortunately but we have had the benefit of correspondence from readers since it appeared: A ban too far yesterday, and Smoking ills today.